The declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has sparked outrage among civil society groups in Rivers State who are calling for its immediate reversal.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, a coalition of civil society organisations accused the Federal Government of overstepping its bounds, arguing that the measure undermines democracy and threatens the peace and economy of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen at a press briefing, members of the coalition noted that when the North East was bedeviled by insecurity which bordered not just on criminality but terrorism, the then president Goodluck Jonathan never suspended the Governors as the chief security officers of their various states.
They therefore called on the president to immediately rescind his decision to pave way for effective governance in Rivers State.
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They criticized the Attorney General of the Federation for making unverified claims against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They questioned why the Attorney General was attempting to indict the Governor over the Ogoni pipeline explosion while the police were still investigating the matter.
They warned that the move sets a dangerous precedence recalling similar historical incidents that led to democratic instability in Nigeria.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
