In a strong condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), called it a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected state lawmakers were suspended. Kwankwaso called this an abuse of executive power that goes against democratic values in a statement issued on Thursday.
When Kwankwaso reflected on his time in the 1992–1993 National Assembly, he warned against making the same mistakes that had been made in the past, where politicians put their internal power battles ahead of defending democratic institutions.
Kwankwaso stated, “I have been keeping a close eye on events in Rivers State over the last two days, and I wanted to let the authorities and conflict parties do what is right, which is why I initially remained silent.”
Nonetheless, he voiced his shock at Tinubu’s unilateral removal of elected officials, claiming that it was against the constitution and directly threatened Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
As a rubber stamp for presidential excesses, Kwankwaso charged that the 10th National Assembly was not upholding democratic norms.
It is the duty of the legislative to hold the executive branch responsible, not to always comply with its wishes. The fact that this 10th Assembly has turned into a rubber stamp more than any of its predecessors is horrifying,” he remarked.
Along with denouncing the use of a voice vote for such a significant matter, he claimed that the National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency lacked transparency and compromised due process.
Calls for Judiciary Independence by Kwankwaso
In addition, the former Kano governor urged the court to stand up for itself and defy outside influences. In order to ensure impartiality in their decisions, Kwankwaso urged judges to “awaken to its responsibility of calming nerves by delivering judgments devoid of any hint of external influence.” Tinubu’s actions, Kwankwaso cautioned, would create a risky precedent for states headed by the opposition and possibly result in increased federal meddling in regional affairs.
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The Attorney General of the Federation’s declaration and the statements that followed have now left many people in states with opposition leaders in a condition of confusion. He cautioned that it creates a risky precedent for the Head of State to have more control over states that are not as politically aligned as the center.
Tinubu, a longtime supporter of democracy, ought to be aware of the risks associated with restoring military influence in Nigerian politics, he added, criticizing the military’s role in Rivers State governance.
For a politician who takes pleasure in protecting democracy, Kwankwaso pointed out that putting the military in a leadership role would jeopardize the gains won over the last 26 years.
In order to warn President Tinubu that reversing this trend could have long-term detrimental effects on Nigeria’s democratic progress, Kwankwaso recalled former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attempts to keep the military confined to their barracks.
Declaring that the political climate in Rivers State did not warrant such extreme measures, Kwankwaso urged the federal government to reevaluate its course of action in closing.
“In my opinion, the political climate in Rivers does not support such a faulty reading of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution. He cautioned that if left unchecked, this move could lead to a culture of impunity and is an unconstitutional overreach.
