By Victor Nwegede
The body demanded an urgent reversal of the emergency rule by President Tinubu and also asked him to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians, especially Rivers people, for having made an alleged illegal declaration capable of destroying the country's democracy.
Addressing journalists on Monday at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, the Representative of the Nigeria Civil Society Situationroom Southeast zone, Ajah Chima Oliver said his members and partners in the region perceived Tinubu's actions constituted an affront to constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Ajah, also the Executive Director of Development & Integrity Intervention Goal, DIG Foundation, said, "The President has acted beyond his constitutional mandate, as this action violates the sovereignty of the state.
"The arbitrary removal of elected officials in Rivers State undermines the principles of federalism and sets a dangerous precedent where the federal government can unlawfully take over the governance of any state under flimsy pretexts.
"We therefore reject this reckless and unlawful suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions in the Rivers State.
"The people of Rivers State exercised their constitutional right by electing their leaders. The President's action is a blatant disregard for their democratic choice and disenfranchises the citizens by imposing a federally appointed administrator over a duly elected government.
"The appointment of a sole administrator in a democratic era is Illegal, unconstitutional and unacceptable.
"There is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution which empowers the President to appoint an unelected individual to govern a federating unit.
If this illegal declaration is allowed to stand, it could serve as a template for future undemocratic actions by the federal government against other states and embolden leaders to subvert democracy for personal or political gain.
"This endangers the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening democratic governance since 1999 and moves the country closer to authoritarian rule."
"Based on these observations, we demand immediate reversal of the state of emergency in River State."
He further argued: "There is no constitutional or moral justification for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, and the President must immediately revoke this
declaration and restore constitutional order in the State by reinstating all the
elected officials.
"The President must publicly apologize to the people of Rivers State and Nigeria
for violating their democratic rights and unlawfully usurping the powers of their
elected leaders.
"The Judiciary and relevant stakeholders must act to safeguard Nigeria’s
democracy by ensuring that the President’s unconstitutional actions are
condemned and that no such overreach is permitted in the future."
He called on Nigerians, other civil society groups, political parties, ethnic nationalities, democratic institutions, and the international community to reject the alleged illegal suspension of elected officials and stand in defence of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
"If this illegality is allowed to stand, it will set a precedence for dictatorship and undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Democracy must be defended. Rivers State must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency," Ajah added.
