Demands immediate Reversal…
By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Southeast have strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of a sole administrator to govern Rivers State, describing the move as “illegal, unconstitutional, and unacceptable.”
The groups, under the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Southeast Zone), made this declaration during a press briefing in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, where they demanded the immediate reversal of the action.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the Executive Director of Development Integrity Goal (DIG) Foundation, Ajah Chima Oliver, stated, “There is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution which empowers the President to appoint an unelected individual to govern a federating unit. If this illegal declaration is allowed to stand, it could serve as a template for future undemocratic actions by the federal government against other states and embolden leaders to subvert democracy for personal or political gain.”
The CSOs warned that Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers State undermines the principles of democracy and federalism, calling it a dangerous precedent that could weaken democratic institutions across the country. They insisted that the removal of elected officials in the state was a direct violation of the people’s mandate and an attack on Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“The people of Rivers State exercised their constitutional right by electing their leaders. The President’s action is a blatant disregard for their democratic choice and disenfranchises the citizens by imposing a federally appointed administrator over a duly elected government,”Ajah added.
The coalition further demanded that Tinubu immediately revoke the appointment of the sole administrator and reinstate all elected officials in Rivers State. They also called for a public apology to the people of Rivers and Nigerians at large for what they termed an abuse of democratic rights.
“The President has acted beyond his constitutional mandate, as this action violates the sovereignty of the state. The arbitrary removal of elected officials in Rivers State undermines the principles of federalism and sets a dangerous precedent where the federal government can unlawfully take over the governance of any state under flimsy pretexts. We therefore reject this reckless and unlawful suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions in Rivers State.”
Ajah further urged “The Judiciary and relevant stakeholders to act to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the President’s unconstitutional actions are condemned and that no such overreach is permitted in the future.”
He called on Nigerians, other civil society groups, political parties, ethnic nationalities, democratic institutions, and the international community to resist what he described as an attempt to erode democratic governance in Nigeria.
“Democracy must be defended. Rivers State must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency,” he emphasized.