Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu had, on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as well as members of the House of State House of Assembly for six months.
The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd) as the Sole Administrator for the state.
Makinde, in his biweekly newsletter, The Business of Governance Issue 110, which was published on Thursday evening, noted that the suspension of democracy in the state through the declaration of a state of emergency is an illegal act which all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.
The governor said, “I stand today to say that the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.
“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with, no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.
“As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.
“I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. Yesterday (Wednesday), the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a Court of competent jurisdiction. We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.”