Connect with us

Politics

State of Emergency: Pro-democracy activists petition ECOWAS President, member states over unconstitutional action by President Tinubu in Rivers

Published

on

A Nigerian pro-democracy coalition, Concerned Nigerians in Defence of Democratic Governance, has petitioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), urging urgent intervention over what it describes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s moves to undermine democracy in the country following the recent development in Rivers State.

In a letter addressed to ECOWAS Commission President, His Excellency Omar Alieu Touray, the coalition expressed concerns over the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The petition jointly signed by Comrade Aliyu Tanko, Bello Adamu, Nnamdi Ekwueme, Nicholas Upelle, Sadiq Alao and
Oche Oche, was also addressed to the High Commissioners of
Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone
and Togo.

The activists argued that the move is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria and the broader West African region if not is done to address it.

“This has implications for how the West African subregion will fare in the future. Permit us to point out that the political crises that led to the formation of the Alliance of Shahelian States (AES) and the subsequent exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) did not emanate at the national levels of these nation-states; the crises began as issues at the subnational levels of these countries before escalating to national challenges that provoked military interventions.

“At the core of the disintegration, staring ECOWAS in the face is the serial injustices that national governments unleash on the constituent units of each nation. The sub-region has looked to Nigeria to play a pivotal role in managing the fallouts of the political situation created by this ugly development.”

The activists alleged that President Tinubu’s decision was politically motivated and aimed at empowering his ally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to take control of Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“He took this step despite a Supreme Court ruling that clarified that a state of emergency does not translate to a removal of the governor or of democratically elected office holders. Through our interactions with persons who are closely linked to the crisis in Rivers State, the Concerned Nigerians in Defence of Democrats Governance have established that the imposition of a state of emergency on Rivers State has nothing to do with the restoration of peace because the state was not at war even at the height of the political disagreements that President Tinubu cited as an excuse to suspend its democratically elected office holders.

“We are now aware that the action was taken to empower President Tinubu’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the immediate past governor of the state, to hijack control of the state from the opposition and fraudulent take it over for the president’s party ahead of the next general elections in 2027.

“Secondly, President Tinubu used the imposition of emergency rule to intimidate the remaining 35 state governors not to challenge his dictatorship since he had demonstrated that he could easily abuse the Constitution to remove them from office.

“Your Excellency, the threat to democratic expression in Nigeria has become so bad that the remaining 35 governors, through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have come out to openly declare that they will not interfere in President Tinubu’s dictatorial imposition of emergency rule. Their declaration of neutrality in the face of the threat to Nigeria’s democracy is better understood against the background that several of the states are currently under siege from President Tinubu’s political mercenaries, who are creating conditions of political hostility to justify further declaration of emergency rule in other states.

“We are writing to alert ECOWAS that President Tinubu’s truncation of democratic governance in Rivers State through the unconstitutional imposition of a state of emergency has grave implications for the West Africa sub-region. Because he is poised to truncate democracy in other Nigerian states, the development would inevitably snowball into violence that could throw the country into crisis”, the letter reads.

They further accused the president of using the emergency rule as a strategy to intimidate other state governors, warning that this could lead to wider instability in the country.

The group warned that if ECOWAS fails to act, the situation could escalate into a major crisis, potentially leading to large-scale displacement of people and instability in West Africa.

They urged ECOWAS to demand the immediate reinstatement of Governor Fubara and other suspended officials, stressing that upholding democratic principles is crucial for the stability of the region.

The activists called on ECOWAS to ensure Nigeria’s leadership adheres to constitutional provisions to prevent further erosion of democracy in the country.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

RSHA continues impeachment of Fubara, writes Chief Judge 

Published

on

The Rivers House of Assembly has continued its resolution to impeach Gov. Siminalaye Fubara and his deputy, Nma Odu.

All 26 members of the Assembly on Friday unanimously resolved during plenary to proceed with the impeachment process against both Fubara and Odu.

Consequently, the lawmakers resolved to write to the Chief Judge(CJ) of the State, as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

They are urging the CJ to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to examine the alleged gross misconduct leveled against the governor and his deputy.

Continue Reading

Politics

Sen. Yari’s constituency office lauds APC e-registration exercise in Zamfara 

Published

on

Hon. Sha’ayau Sarkinfawa, the Coordinator, Sen.. Abdul’aziz Yari Constituency office for Zamfara West Senatorial District, has commended the ongoing nationwide membership e-registration exercise  of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sarkinfawa, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Gusau on Thursday, stated that the exercise would promote integrity and credibility in the party membership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC nationwide e-registration exercise commenced recently and would run until the end of this month.

He described the exercise as the bedrock for internal democracy.

“The APC e-registration would strength the party’s membership.

“The ongoing APC e-registration exercise is a  wise political initiative and imperative determined to upgrade the data of the progressive party members electorally,” Sarkinfawa further said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for making the APC proud and wished him more strength ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

According to him, Yari and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had already built a stronger political platform in the APC structure of the state.

“Therefore, we are expecting a tremendous success.at the end of the exercise” he added.

Sarkinfawa further said, the exercise would provide an ample opportunity for all the eligible members of the party to be duly captured in its digital register.

He added, “It will also ensure accuracy, transparency and integrity in the party’s membership.

“The exercise guarantees sanity and credibility of the party’s membership register.

“A data-driven membership registration is expected to capture every eligible member of the party across the 147 political wards of the state.

“Therefore, our members should participate fully in the exercise and make sure they are captured electronically.

“I therefore urge all APC members and stakeholders in the state to take full advantage of the e-registration and participate promptly and responsibly.$

Sarkinfawa further described the APC as the most dominant political party in Zamfara and Nigeria.  adding that it would record massive victories in the 2027 General Elections.

Continue Reading

Cover

Soludo denies Bianca Ojukwu’s chieftaincy title, calls it fake

Published

on

Anambra State Governor Prof Charles Soludo, has disowned the chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’ conferred on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, purportedly by the embattled traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Austin Ndigwe, insisting that Ndigwe is not a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State.

In a letter dated December 31, 2025 and signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, the state government said the conferment of the chieftaincy title on the minister did not follow the right channel.

Nwabunwanne said the conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognised/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.

He added that in the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the traditional ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained.

According to him, this is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct, insisting that none of the above conditions was met in the case of Bianca Ojukwu.

He said the chieftaincy title as posted by Ojukwu on her social handles have caused massive confusion in the camp of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and across the state.

The letter is titled, ‘Amb. Bianca Ojukwu and the fake chieftaincy title from a fake traditional ruler’, was made available to journalists on Thursday.

It read partly, “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a publication by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E Amb. Bianca Ojukwu indicating that she has been conferred with a chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’, which according to her was “conferred at the prestigious Igu Aro Cultural Festival by His Majesty Obi Austin Ndigwe (MON).

“Mrs Ojukwu is an APGA chieftain and her posts have caused massive confusion leading many to wonder whether her involvement in the phoney chieftaincy title signals a change in the state government’s policy stance or simply an unnecessary/avoidable affront to the state government and the Anambra traditional institutions and culture.

“As a government committed to law and order and to the promotion and protection of our culture and traditional institutions, the Anambra State Government wishes to clarify and state as follows a) The conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognized/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.

“In the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the Traditional Ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained. This is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct. None of the above conditions was met in the case under reference.

“Chief Austin C. Ndigwe IS NOT a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State. To put it mildly, he is simply an impostor. We have sighted a letter signed by him under a letterhead as the “Eze Uzu III” of Awka (a clear criminal offence under the Anambra Law) when the traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) is still alive, and with the official certificate and recognition by government as the traditional ruler of Awka.

“The 92-year-old Eze Uzu Awka is known to be the first Nigerian that flew a fighter jet solo. He was Second in Command in the Biafran Air Force who left with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to Cote d’Ivoire and later to Zambia— and was in exile for 15 years. It was this same Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu who in 2004 conferred the chieftaincy title of OMENIFE AWKA on the current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“Sadly, it is this aged veteran, now blind but still agile, who this dance of infamy is denigrating as well as insulting the sensitivities of Awka people and the Anambra traditions and culture. Even the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be turning in his grave at this unwarranted insult on HRH Gibson Nwosu designed just to wet some megalomaniacal appetite. In the Anambra/Igbo culture, this is an abomination.

“Hon Minister Ojukwu—with her background and pedigree, knows or should know these FACTS very well. She was in the home of Chief Ndigwe when the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, attended his birthday celebration a few years ago and publicly advised him “as a friend” to desist from impersonating the traditional ruler of the town and that the recognised traditional ruler remained HRH Gibson Nwosu.

“The video went viral. Indeed, in her publication in her verified Facebook account, Mrs Ojukwu carefully avoided referring to Mr. Ndigwe as a traditional ruler but rather described him as “Supreme Commander of Awka Ancient Kingdom”—a phantom title/position that does not exist in Awka.

“We do not object to whatever pet name she chooses to call her friend to massage his ego, but such must not be elevated to a point of sacrilege against law and custom. The whole exercise appears to be an indirect affront to the authority of the Traditional Ruler of Awka and the sanctity of the Traditional Institution in Anambra State established by the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State. By proceeding to describe Mr. Ndigwe conjunctively as “His Majesty” and “Obi”, the message unequivocally evinced an intention to portray and as a matter of fact portrayed him as a Traditional Ruler. This is against the spirit of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.

“By purporting to confer a chieftaincy title, Mr. Ndigwe usurped the ceremonial functions of the bona fide Traditional Ruler of Awka—HRH Gibson Nwosu—and this is totally unacceptable. Arrogating to oneself the non-existent and childish title of “Supreme Commander” and using same to confer vain Chieftaincy titles is designed to subjugate

the Traditional Ruler and ridicule the Traditional Institution thereby creating a dangerous precedent which the State Government will not allow. The State Government will not tolerate this desecration of the Traditional Institution and will take every lawful step to promote and protect our culture and traditional institutions.

“Amb. Bianca Ojukwu knows that Mr. Ndigwe has neither legal nor customary rights to confer a Chieftaincy title on anyone. She is eminently qualified to be honoured with Chieftaincy titles by recognized traditional institutions—at least, as the wife of late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.

“But it cannot be a vain or fake Chieftaincy title from an impostor or fake traditional ruler like Mr. Ndigwe. We therefore state that the Chieftaincy title she purports to have received from Mr. Austin Ndigwe is fake and not recognized under the Anambra culture and tradition or law. She should desist from addressing herself by any such fake title conferred by Mr. Austin Ndigwe.

“In conclusion, Anambra State government wishes to assure our people that it is committed to a new social order. We must restore sensible values and respect for law and order, custom and tradition and ennobling values that elevate our collective social consciousness rather than the nascent subculture that celebrates a few with megalomaniacal delusions and who attempt to play God.

“These few cannot be role models for our children nor the foundation for our future. As a responsible government we must take all necessary steps to protect our collective heritage from willful assault. To the great and law abiding people of Awka, we have your back.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 - 2025 DailyMirror Nigeria. Design by AspireWeb.ng, powered by WordPress.