ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Rivers State Governor and immediate past Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has joined the growing opposition against President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Amaechi described the move as unconstitutional and a dangerous affront to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Amaechi condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of elected officials, calling it a “brazen and unilaterally reckless” action.
“Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Amaechi said.
He added, “With this singular move, Mr. President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold.”
Amaechi, who served as Rivers State Governor from 2007 to 2015, emphasised that Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution outlines the process for removing a governor and does not grant the President the power to suspend elected officials.
“Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree, or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself,” Amaechi stated.
He described the suspension of elected officials as a “brazen attempt at power grab” and urged Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), to speak out against the move.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers,” Amaechi said.
He called on politicians, state governors, and legislators to rise against what he described as Nigeria’s descent into totalitarianism.
“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,” Amaechi declared.
Amaechi also urged the National Assembly to reject the emergency declaration and suspension of elected officials, describing the move as a “very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.”
The former governor commended state governors who have spoken out against the suspension, urging the NGF to take a stand against the President’s actions.
“As a former State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President. I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension,” Amaechi said.
