Ex-presidential aide faults Tinubu’s decision on declaring state of emergency in Rivers

A stateholder of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), and former presidential adviser, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has questioned the necessity for the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

An array of Nigerians have similarly condemned the development.

President Bola Tinubu made the declaration Tuesday night, suspending Gov Sim Fubara, his deputy and all elected members of the state House of Assembly on Tuesday for six months.

In a statement, he listed possible reasons which could lead to such declarations by the president, and wondered if the declaration is necessary to restore peace in Rivers State.

Quoting Section 305 of the Constitution, Obono-Obla outlined the conditions under which a state of emergency can be declared.

These, he said, include “War or imminent danger of invasion, Breakdown of public order and safety, Clear and present danger of breakdown, Natural disasters or calamities, and other public dangers threatening the Federation.

Obono-Obla who is a lawyer, added that the section also specified the procedures for declaring and revoking a state of emergency, including the role of the National Assembly.

“A state of emergency is a situation where a government takes extraordinary measures to protect its citizens and maintain law and order. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, it’s a national danger or disaster situation that requires the government to suspend normal procedures to regain control.

“In Nigeria, the President can declare a state of emergency under Section 305 of the Constitution. This allows the President to take measures that wouldn’t normally be permitted, such as suspending governors or state assemblies. The President must then notify the National Assembly, which can approve or revoke the state of emergency,” he said.