Former Rivers State Governor condemns removal of Fubara, others

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

The former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the removal of the Governor of Rivers State, Deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Amaechi, the removal was unilateral, reckless, and unconstitutional.

The former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly noted that with this move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State.

He said that the move had also violated our constitution that the President swore to uphold.

The former Transport Minister hinted that section 188 of the constitution clearly stated how a sitting and Executive Governor should be removed from office.

Noting that it should not be by declaration, decree, promulgation or otherwise by Mr President.

Amaechi said the unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in Rivers State is a brazen attempt at grabbing power in the State by force.

He opined that the unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally penetrate and impose themselves on the people.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated this in a statement on Thursday 20th March 2025.

The statement read: “Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

With this singular move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State.

This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold.

Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office.

And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.

A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President.

The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.

The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers.

The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.

At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy.

Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.

Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism.

State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.

As a former State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President.

I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension.

The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.

DDM News gathered that the neglect of the Legislature by the Executives in this dispensation, has been the reason or reasons of rising crisis in the country.

It also gathered that lack of checks and balances among the Executive, legislature and the Judiciary are the reasons for the abuse of powers.

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