Soyinka blasts Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers, describes it as ‘excessive’

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned the declaration of state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.

Soyinka, who stated this during an interview on Channels Television, described the situation as excessive.

It could be recalled that Tinubu declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state on Tuesday night over the political crisis and instability in the state.

The president also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

In the governor’s stead, Tinubu immediately appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He has also appointed and sworn in a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the Sole Administrator of the state.

The president hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in the state escalate without taking any measures.

Section 305 of the Nigerian constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of “national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.”

A state of emergency allows the president to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.

Credit: dailypost.ng

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