Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has strongly denounced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a risky precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
Kwankwaso called the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected state lawmakers an abuse of executive power that goes against democratic values in a statement issued on Thursday.
Thinking back on his time in the 1992–1993 National Assembly, Kwankwaso advised against making the same mistakes in the past, where legislators put their internal power battles ahead of defending democratic institutions.
“I have kept 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,” Kwankwaso stated.
He was appalled, therefore, by Tinubu’s unilateral removal of elected persons from office, claiming that it was against the constitution and directly threatened Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
Kwankwaso charged that the 10th National Assembly was a rubber stamp for executive excesses and had failed to respect democratic values.
“The legislative must hold the executive branch responsible and not always comply with its wishes. “This 10th Assembly has become more of a rubber stamp than any of its predecessors, which is terrible,” he remarked.
Additionally, he denounced the way the National Assembly adopted the state of emergency, claiming that it was opaque and violated due process by using a voice vote on such a significant matter.
Kwankwaso Demands the Independence of the Judiciary
The former governor of Kano also urged the judiciary to stand up for itself and defy outside influences. Kwankwaso urged judges to ensure impartiality in their decisions, saying, “Our judiciary must wake up to its responsibility of calming nerves by delivering judgments devoid of any hint of external influence.” Kwankwaso cautioned that Tinubu’s actions would create a risky precedent for states headed by the opposition, which could result in increased federal meddling in regional affairs.
Many people in states with opposition leaders are now in disarray as a result of this decree and the Attorney General of the Federation’s subsequent statements. He said, “It creates a risky precedent for the Head of State to strengthen his hold on states that are not on the same political level as the center.”
Along with criticizing the military’s role in Rivers State government, he said Tinubu, a longtime supporter of democracy, ought to be aware of the risks associated with restoring military influence in Nigerian politics.
Read Also: Rivers: Ibas Breaks Silence After Security Meeting, Announces Media Briefing
As Kwankwaso pointed out, “drafting the military into a position of leadership is dangerous to the progress we have made in the past 26 years for a politician who prides himself on defending democracy.”
Kwankwaso warned that reversing this trend could have long-term detrimental effects on Nigeria’s democratic progress, reminding President Tinubu of previous President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attempts to keep the military confined to their barracks.
Kwankwaso concluded by pleading with the federal government to reevaluate its course of action, claiming that the political climate in Rivers State did not warrant such extreme measures.
The political climate in Rivers, in my opinion, does not support such a faulty reading of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution. He cautioned that this conduct is an unconstitutional overreach that might encourage a culture of impunity if left unchecked.
