A pro- democracy coalition, The Concerned Nigerians in Defence of Democratic Governance, has petitioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the emergency rule in Rivers State.
President Tinubu had in a nationwide broadcast suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; Ngozi Odu, his deputy; and all house of assembly members; for six months. He appointed a retired Naval Officer and former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers state.
In a letter dated March 24 and addressed to Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, the coalition said the emergency rule is not constitutional and sets a “dangerous precedent” for democratic governance in Nigeria and the West African region.
“Permit us to point out that the political crises that led to the formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) and the subsequent exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) did not emanate at the national levels of these nation-states; the crises began as issues at the subnational levels of these countries before escalating to national challenges that provoked military interventions.
“At the core of the disintegration, staring ECOWAS in the face is the serial injustices that national governments unleash on the constituent units of each nation.
“The sub-region has looked to Nigeria to play a pivotal role in managing the fallouts of the political situation created by this ugly development.
“Your Excellency, the threat to democratic expression in Nigeria has become so bad that the remaining 35 governors, through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have come out to openly declare that they will not interfere in President Tinubu’s dictatorial imposition of emergency rule.” The statement concluded.
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