Sara-Igbe: Tinubu Exploiting Weak National Assembly to Breach Constitution

Anabs Sara-Igbe, a well-known Ijaw leader and elder statesman, has once again denounced President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and State House of Assembly members.

In an interview with Vanguard, Sara-Igbe claimed that President Tinubu’s actions were against the nation’s constitution.
According to the former spokesperson for the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Tinubu could take the step since the National Assembly is no longer an autonomous branch of government and has failed in its duty to restrain the executive’s excesses.

He went on to say that Nigeria is moving toward a civilian dictatorship and courting military intervention as a result of the actions taken in Rivers State.
Sara-Igbe concurred that when leaders disregard the constitution’s provisions, it is evident that democracy is in danger, especially in light of recent claims that Nigerian democracy is dead made by former President Oluesegun Obasanjo and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

“Nigeria is tilting towards dictatorship,” he said. The military brothers are being invited by the civilian dictatorship. It’s similar to the house rat inviting the rat from outside.

“There is a breakdown of law and order, democracy is in danger, and the leaders are no longer abiding by the constitution.”

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In the circumstances surrounding the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Sara-Igbe contended that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government all broke the constitution and did not fulfill their assigned duties.

“The constitution has been broken by them. The Constitution has been broken by the president. You may see that Mr. President has broken the constitution with reference to Rivers State by looking at Sections 188 and 189.

“There is no clause that gives the president the authority to suspend or fire a governor, even if you look at sections 183, 188, and 189, which deal with the governor’s removal or illegibility.

Democracy is dead, since they are now considering permanently suspending him. I concur with them. A dictatorship is rapidly approaching.

“We observe that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government have all broken the law.” Section 305 of the constitution, which states that a two-thirds majority of members must vote on matters pertaining to a state of emergency, was not used by the legislature. We were unable to determine the number of voters, absentees, or even present because they used a voice vote.

None of these occurred in accordance with the due process of law. There is no longer any rule of law. I advise Mr. President to exercise caution.

He should go back; one guy cannot bring about the destruction of the entire nation. He shouldn’t harm the democratic system as a whole or his own reputation.

There is yet time.
But the Ijaw chieftain urged President Tinubu to back out before the nation is further embroiled in constitutional mistakes.

“Today’s events are illegal and a violation of the Nigerian constitution. The head of state can therefore make reparations, Mr. President.

“Once more, Mr. President broke the law by overturning the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Supreme Court ruled that funds should not be disbursed to the Rivers State government until the budget was submitted.

“Mr. President overruled the Supreme Court and disbursed funds without a budget. All of these violate the Constitution. Knowing that the National Assembly has likewise violated the constitution and is compromised, the president is taking all of these actions. He argued that the executive branch had supplanted the judiciary in its own right.