By Eric Moore
A legal practitioner based in Port Harcourt, Mr. Princewill Dike, has commended President Bola Tinubu, for proactively declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State, to save it from a looming anarchy capable of leading to bloodshed.
Dike stated that Tinubu’s declaration of an emergency rule in the state was pursuant to Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution ( as amended).
According to him, in Section 14, subsection 2 of the constitution, it is the primary function of the government to protect lives and property, which was what the president had done in Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the legal practitioner stressed that lives and property of members of the public were threatened should Governor Siminalayi Fubara be impeached by the House of Assembly.
Barr. Dike noted several threats by individuals and groups from a particular ethnic nationality threatening the safety of non-indigenes in Rivers and federal government critical assets in and around the state.
He said the comments were serious security threat not only to Rivers State, but the entire country, as the threats could have spill-over effects on other states.
Barr. Dike
Dike expressed worries that, in the face of these threats, the state governor could not publicly condemn them, or direct security agencies to apprehend the masterminds.
He added that it was worrisome, when the state governor, at an event after the Supreme Court judgement, told youths not to be perturbed that he would advise them at the appropriate time.
Dike said: “The declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in tune with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“In addendum to the foregoing, Section 14, subsection 2 of the self-same grundnorm declares that the primary function of government is protection of lives and property.
“Now, question is: were lives and property threatened in Rivers State prior to the declaration of the State of Emergency? The answer is in the affirmative!
“The suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the leadership of Ijaw National Congress, and some militants had threatened violence should Fubara be impeached. And soon after that, some oil facilities were blown up.
“Again, Governor Fubara’s reluctance in presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly as adjudicated by the Supreme Court, heightened tension in the wider spectrum of the state.
“So, Mr. President acted proactively to forestall total breakdown of law and order in the state, and didn’t behave like Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burned.”
Barr. Dike noted that President Tinubu is not the first president to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria, and wondered why Rivers’ case should be given tribal coloration.
He continued: “And don’t forget, President Obasanjo set the precedence in declaration of State of Emergency in Plateau State (2004) and Ekiti State (2006).
“Goodluck Jonathan too, did in the following states: Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States (2013-2015). So, what is the hullabaloo about that of Rivers State?”