Officials within the South-South Governors’ Forum strongly challenge the six-month state of emergency declared by the Federal Government for Rivers State because they believe the political affairs do not justify this level of intervention.
Through the statement signed by Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri while holding the Forum’s Chair position the governors explained the President carries out his constitutional law enforcement responsibilities yet Section 305(3) of the Nigerian Constitution did not trigger emergency declaration conditions.
Under the Constitution of Nigeria the existing political climate in Rivers State fails to establish enough evidence for an emergency declaration. A state of emergency justifies declaration only when Nigeria faces war and aggression from outside forces or anticipates invasion before a sudden collapse of public order becomes existentially dangerous to the citizens or when natural disasters or other major public risks exist, according to the declaration.
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According to the South-South Governors Forum both governors and deputy governors along with House of Assembly members can only be removed through exact procedures outlined in Section 188 and due process received insufficient attention during the emergency declaration process.
“We believe that the political disputes in Rivers State between the Governor and the House of Assembly should, ideally, be resolved through legal and constitutional means, rather than by executive fiat,” the Forum noted.
As a way forward, the South-South Governors’ Forum called for an immediate rescission of the state of emergency to ease tensions and restore stability.
The forum also urged all parties to remain calm, uphold the Nigerian Constitution, and embrace dialogue as the best solution to the crisis.“The moment for dialogue is now,” the statement concluded.
