Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has condemned the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that right-thinking members of the society should oppose it.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday, March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the governor, Similayi Fubara; his deputy Ngozi Odu, as well as the House of Assembly for six months.
The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator for the state.
Governor Makinde, in his biweekly newsletter, The Business of Governance Issue 110, which was published in the evening on Thursday, March 20, noted that the suspension of democracy in Rivers State, through the declaration of State of Emergency, is an illegal act which must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
The governor wrote further: “I stand today to say that the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.
“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.”
The governor added: “As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.”
He continued: “I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. Yesterday (Wednesday), the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.”
