Atiku, Obi, Others Urge N’Assembly to Reject Tinubu’s Emergency Rule in Rivers

Atiku, Obi, Others Urge N’Assembly to Reject Tinubu’s Emergency Rule in Rivers

By Fly Cable News

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders, has called on the National Assembly to reject President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Speaking at a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku criticized Tinubu’s invocation of Section 305, describing it as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this illegal proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State,” he stated.

He further appealed to lawmakers to reject the emergency rule, warning against legitimizing what he termed an unconstitutional power grab.

Rivers State has faced political turmoil for nearly two years due to a power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara. Amid the crisis, Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s House of Assembly for six months. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) was appointed as the sole administrator.

Within hours, military forces took control of the Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt. While Fubara raised concerns over the development, the state House of Assembly endorsed Tinubu’s decision.

Other opposition figures at the press briefing included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and CUPP National Secretary Peter Ahmeh.

Apologies were received on behalf of former Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and ex-APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu.

More details to follow…