Amaechi Condemns Suspension of Governor Fubara, Urges Resistance to Illegality

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly....CONTINUE READING>>>

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Amaechi condemned the suspension, calling it a blatant violation of Nigeria’s Constitution. He emphasized that the President had overstepped his constitutional authority by removing elected state officials.

Amaechi specifically pointed to Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the impeachment process for removing a governor, arguing that executive orders do not hold the power to dissolve democratically elected leaders. He also challenged the President’s reliance on Section 305, which permits the declaration of a state of emergency, asserting that it does not allow for the dissolution of elected government bodies.

Further criticizing the move, Amaechi alleged that political forces were behind efforts to seize control of Rivers State, and called on national leaders to resist this attempt to undermine democracy.

In his statement, Amaechi declared:
“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr. President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.”

As a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Amaechi expressed his gratitude to the governors who had already spoken out against the suspension and encouraged others to join in opposing what he sees as a dangerous shift toward authoritarian rule.