Femi Falana Urges Nigerians To Stand Against Tinubu's Declaration Of Emergency In Rivers State

Femi Falana Calls for Resistance Against President Tinubu’s Actions

Listen up, folks. Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, is sounding the alarm bells. He’s urging all Nigerians to rise up and resist President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. According to Falana, this move isn’t just questionable—it’s unconstitutional. He insists that Tinubu doesn’t have the authority under the 1999 Constitution to suspend or remove the governor, deputy governor, or members of the state’s House of Assembly. This is serious stuff, and Falana is making sure everyone knows it.

Why Falana Believes Tinubu Violated the Constitution

Let me break it down for you. During a virtual interaction with Nigerians living abroad, Falana laid out his argument. He said that even if the Constitution allows the president to take extraordinary measures under certain circumstances, that doesn’t give him the green light to dismantle elected state officials. In fact, Section 305 of the Constitution clearly states that the president can issue a proclamation of a state of emergency—but only under specific conditions. Falana emphasized that nowhere in the Constitution does it say the president can remove elected officials. He added, “There is no such provision in the Constitution, and the president and his allies can’t just make things up as they go along.”

The Constitution Speaks: What Does Section 305 Say?

Here’s the deal. Section 305 of the Constitution outlines the conditions under which the president can declare a state of emergency. It says, “(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the president may by instrument published in the official Gazette of the Government of the Federation issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof.” That’s the legal framework, but Falana argues that this doesn’t grant the president the power to meddle with the democratic process in Rivers State. He believes that Tinubu’s actions go beyond what the Constitution permits, and that’s a big problem.

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Falana Criticizes the National Assembly’s Role

Now, here’s where things get even more interesting. During the same virtual conference, which was co-hosted by prominent voices like Farooq Kperogi, Moses Ochonu, and Osmond Agba, Falana took aim at the National Assembly. He accused lawmakers of rubber-stamping Tinubu’s decision without proper scrutiny. According to Falana, the haste with which the National Assembly approved the suspension of democratic structures in Rivers State was deeply troubling. He suggested that partisan politics played a significant role in their decision-making process, and that’s not what democracy is supposed to look like.

What’s at Stake for Nigeria?

This isn’t just about Rivers State—it’s about the future of democracy in Nigeria. Falana is reminding us that when leaders overstep their bounds, it sets a dangerous precedent. By challenging Tinubu’s actions, he’s asking all Nigerians to think critically about the implications of this decision. Is this a step toward protecting the nation, or is it an overreach that undermines our democratic principles? That’s the question we need to ask ourselves. So, as Falana puts it, let’s stand firm and defend the Constitution. This is our chance to show the world what true democracy looks like.