Anabs Sara-Igbe, Niger Delta activist and elder statesman, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Sara-Igbe claimed that President Tinubu “seems to be very desperate to whip opponents to their knees.”
The elder statesman made the assertion on Thursday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme.
The statement comes after Tinubu, on Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The President made the pronouncement in a nationwide broadcast.
Tinubu claimed that he was “greatly disturbed about the political crisis” in the state and accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of demolishing the State House of Assembly building.
However, Chief Sara-Igbe said there is no war in the state to warrant the declaration of a state of emergency, describing it as an illegal action.
According to him, the President went against the Constitution and is now asking the National Assembly to approve his violation of it.
He said: “In the case of Rivers State, there is no war, no fight, every place is quiet. And yet, a state of emergency was declared. Not only that, an elected governor was suspended. The House of Assembly was also suspended.
“This is somehow not proper. It’s an illegal action. The Constitution did not empower Mr. President in any way. I have looked at the conditions under which a governor can be removed, and this was not part of the conditions in the Constitution.
“But I will tell you why these actions were taken. First, Mr. President seems to be very desperate to whip opponents to their knees. Wike is Mr. President’s right-hand man. Just last weekend, he came to Rivers State like a president.”
“He came with the Army, the police, the Navy, the Air Force, the DSS, gunboats, airplanes, tanks, and artillery, all of this was mobilized for a minister’s visit with the intention of causing a crisis so that a state of emergency could be declared.”
“You have the power to fire a minister who has been causing confusion,not only in the Niger Delta but also in the North and South-South. Yet, you did not fire him, but you can fire a governor that you don’t have the power to fire.”
“These are things that are obvious. Now other governors will be watching. Today, it is Fubara’s turn. He will apply the same approach to other states, particularly PDP states, where governors are stubborn and will not do his bidding, he will sack them.”
“The National Assembly members are there. The law says they have to confirm, not the removal of the governor, but the declaration of a state of emergency.”
“But in this case, he has also gone against the Constitution. He has violated the Constitution, and he is asking the National Assembly to approve his violation and they all accepted it. If the National Assembly now thinks this is a President they can trust, I worry, because, definitely, he will go after them next.”
Rivers crisis: Tinubu desperate to whip opponents to their knees – Elder Statesman, Sara-Igbe
