State Of Emergency: Govs Should Feel Threatened By Action Of An Over-reaching President – NLC Says
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday took a critical look at the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that all reasonable governors thinking reasonably should feel threatened by the action of an over-reaching President.
This was as the NLC said that President Tinubu acted hastily and clearly out of the provisions of Part II Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The umbrella body of labour movement in Nigeria also said that the purported suspension or removal of the Governor, his deputy and the State House of Assembly by President Tinubu constitute a threat to the nation’s democracy.
These were contained in a statement by Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC in which he said the Congress would like to join other well-meaning Nigerians or organisations in the President to immediately retrace his steps by revoking this declaration of state of emergency in compliance with Section 305 ss6 of the Constitution.
Ajaero stressed that given the enormous powers vested in the President and for him to freely exercise those powers, his decisions at all times shall be above suspicion and on no account should they put in jeopardy the security and economic health of the nation.
He further said; “Given the weighty consequences that befell our nation in our nascent history and the lessons ought to have been learnt thereof, we equally advise that Mr President be guided by utmost restraint when exercising undue political advantage.
“Given his rich pedigree in popular political struggle, we urge that Mr President does not behave or act in a way that puts a question mark on his credentials.
“Finally, it is given or expected that Mr President shall act at all times in the over all best interest of the nation,” the NLC said.
