ABUJA, Nigeria – Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, has described former President Goodluck Jonathan and Professor Wole Soyinka’s comments on the emergency rule in Rivers State as personal opinions.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, which included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, warning that it could damage Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
Speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on March 22, Jonathan criticised the suspension of the state’s elected leaders, accusing the three arms of government in Rivers State—the executive, legislature, and judiciary—of contributing to the political instability that led to the emergency declaration.
“A clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across the three arms of government—from the executive through the parliament and to the judiciary,” Jonathan said, condemning the actions of the state leadership.
Similarly, Professor Wole Soyinka, the renowned Nobel Laureate, also weighed in, echoing concerns about the centralisation of power in Nigeria.
Soyinka, a long-time advocate for constitutional reform, argued that the emergency declaration contradicts the fundamental principles of federalism.
He noted that the 1999 constitution gives the president excessive powers, making Nigeria’s system more centralised than it should be.
“The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision, but in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association,” Soyinka stated.
A presidential aide responded to the criticism, defending Tinubu’s actions as part of his constitutional duties.
“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended,” said Ajayi, a spokesperson for the president.
He further explained that the president had a duty to protect the country and preserve its corporate existence.
“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country,” Ajayi added.
