(PRESS STATEMENT)
A group of lawyers, known as Lawyers in Defence of Democracy, has taken to the streets to demand the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.
The group is calling on the United States and the international community to pressure the Nigerian government to rescind its decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The lawyers, led by their Country Director, Barr. Uche Chukwu Udeh Sylvester argued that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu is unconstitutional and undermines democracy.
They claim that the president’s action was taken without clear and present danger, and due process was not followed.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, they urged him to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to restore democratic rule in Rivers State.
They argue that the suspension of Governor Fubara and the state assembly is a brazen attempt to undermine constitutional order.
The lawyers also condemn the National Assembly for ratifying the president’s decision, describing it as an assault on democracy.
They demand that President Tinubu reconsider his stand and allow Governor Fubara to continue his work as democratically elected governor of the state.
“In an era where democracy is supposed to reign supreme giving democracy dividends to the masses, we have found ourselves at a crossroads, a sober moment of reckoning where constitutional order is being tested most brazenly,” the letter said.
“The president, who swore to uphold the Constitution, has taken a most unprecedented and unlawful step with the suspension of a democratically elected governor, deputy governor and an entire state House of Assembly under the guise of Emergency Rule. What emergency? Nigerians and Rivers people did not see or feel any such emergency.
“In our law books and we stand by this, no constitutional provision, statute or any known convention gives the president the powers to single-handedly dissolve the structures of an elected state government.
“This could only have happened during the days of military juntas, but we are not under the firm grip of a military dictatorship. At the moment, the country is being governed under a constitutional democracy that operates a presidential system of government.
“President Bola Tinubu should not have taken the decision because democracy is a learning process, and the judiciary has demonstrated the capability to resolve issues.
“The president should have allowed the various state organs to resolve the issues. It is not worthy that until recently, there was a crisis of local government administration in Osun State, which has not led to a declaration of a state of emergency.”
