Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials in Rivers State, describing the move as a violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday, El-Rufai condemned the decision as “wanton aggression against democratic tenets,” arguing that while security concerns in Rivers State require urgent attention, they do not justify dismantling the state’s democratic structures.
El-Rufai maintained that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the President the power to remove elected state officials, emphasizing that such actions undermine federalism.
“There are things that are so clearly wrong that the justifications summoned in their defense fall flat. The decision of Mr. President to suspend the elected officials of the Rivers State Government is one of those,” he stated.
He cited the Supreme Court ruling in Dariye vs. Attorney General of the Federation, which declared such suspensions unconstitutional, and urged Tinubu to reconsider his stance in the interest of democracy.
El-Rufai reminded Nigerians of Tinubu’s past opposition to emergency rule under former President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that the current decision contradicts the democratic values Tinubu once defended.
“A similar reconsideration is warranted in this case to contain the damage done to the people of Rivers State and restore the Federal Government to compliance with the Constitution,” he added.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to speak against the suspension, warning that silence could set a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria.
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