Sam Philip
The declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been described as extra-constitutional, necessary and expedient.
This was the submission of a legal practitioner and a former Minister of State (Transport), Prince Ademola Adegoroye in an open letter he addressed to President Tinubu made available to journalists on Saturday.
Adegoroye stated that the promulgation saved the people of the state from looming deadly crisis that would have erupted if the state House of Assembly proceeded with the impeachment process it had started due to the large cache of arms and ammunition in possession of militants and other persons in the state.
According to the open letter entitled: “Declaration Of A State Of Emergency In Rivers State, Extra Constitutional But Necessary and Expedient,” Adegoroye said he had gone through the enabling law that empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in a state, noting that such a decision is only taken by strong and courageous leaders.
He went into history of heads of government in foreign countries including US President Abraham Lincoln, Indian Prime Minister, Indra Ghandi and President Charles de Gaulle of France, who took similar divisive decisions to save their countries at one point.
The open letter reads inter alia: “As a legal practitioner of over 30 years , and having been fathered by one of the first generation of legal practitioners Nigeria produced, the late Prince Deji Adegoroye, I was taken aback and almost in shock when Mr. President and Commander-in -Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared Emergency rule in Rivers State and went on to suspend democratic structures immediately.
“I have taken time to properly read the enabling laws that sets out the conditions under which a State Governor may leave office. I have also listened and read so much particularly the opinion of the two sides to the conflict.
“I have also done some research on this issue and I have come to a convinced position that Mr President took an action and a decision which only strong and courageous leaders do, particularly when they are prepared to make sacrifices which will be beneficial to their countries and ensure that history records them positively, such that such individuals leave their footprints in the sands of time.
“Perhaps, just perhaps, Mr President should just have waited and watched for another week or two and Nigerians would have seen the stories that would have come out of Rivers State.
“Maybe, just maybe those who have taken an irreversible position on the matter would take a second look at Mr President’s decision.
“Nigerians must not quickly forget that the arms and ammunition in the possession of South South warlords and militants are such that would frighten any nation where possession of arms is illegal.
“We must also not forget that Mr President on an hourly basis has access to security information which perhaps no one else has, another factor which must have made him act promptly and decisively in the circumstances.
“Like I pointed out earlier, only responsible leaders take extra -constitutional measures, however illegal and unpleasant, to ensure law and order and improve responsible governance.
“History is replete with the present situation that Asiwaju has found himself.
“Being a politician myself, I know that it is not out of place for us to read political meanings to Mr President’s actions but time will tell whether it was a decision taken selfishly or that taken in good conscience for the overall good of Rivers State and the entire country in general.
“Oil pipelines had started to be blown by unknown people at a time of deep economic recession and strangulation and threats of further breakdown of law and order were issued in the public space and even militants were already spoiling for a showdown.
“No responsible President would stand idly-by and watch that situation deteriorate and degenerate.
“Finally, I dare say that Mr President’s actions has protected life and property in Rivers, restored law and order and it has preserved the nation’s economic infrastructure.
“Who would say to me that had Governor Fubara and the Wike-supported House of Assembly still in place, we would still be experiencing the peace we presently enjoy in Rivers?
“Strong, courageous Presidents and leaders the world over take firm measures no matter how unpleasant.
“This is not to say Asiwaju should become a dictator but I say that in the instant case, he acted like a statesman.
“I herby call on Mr President to further act like that statesman he is proving to be to once again intervene with a second meeting which would take balanced, far-reaching decisions in the interest of all and ensure the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers at the end of the six-month Emergency rule.
“Wike and his junior brother, Fubara and indeed all the actors in Rivers would have taken this six months to cool off, be sober and reflect, to think deep and see whether all they’ve done since this crisis started has been in their own self interest or in the interest of Rivers State and its good people.”
