State of Emergency: CLO Calls on NASS to Intervene and Halt Tinubu’s Actions

State of Emergency: CLO Calls on NASS to Intervene and Halt Tinubu’s Actions

The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has sparked widespread reactions. The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on the president to rescind his decision, urging the National Assembly to reverse it in the best interest of the nation………..READ MORE

In a statement released by CLO’s Executive Director, Steve Aluko, the organization condemned the state of emergency declaration, claiming that it was avoidable if all parties had acted in a timely and correct manner. The CLO also argued that the move contradicted the letter, spirit, and intent of the Nigerian constitution, citing a similar event in Plateau State under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The CLO’s statement emphasized that the declaration undermines democratic governance, referencing a recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy that condemned undemocratic practices. The group called for a return to the sanctity of votes and democratic governance as the proper solution to the Rivers State crisis, warning against the risks of endangering democratic ideals.

Additionally, the CLO urged the National Assembly to disapprove and reverse the state of emergency declaration.

In response to the ongoing developments, President Tinubu suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odua, and all elected lawmakers of the state House of Assembly for an initial six months, further intensifying the political tension in the state.

The debate over Tinubu’s authority to declare a state of emergency and suspend elected officials has been a central point of contention, with various opposition figures and legal experts challenging the constitutionality of the move.