By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
The South-South Governors’ Forum has expressed strong reservations over the Federal Government’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, noting that the political situation does not warrant such drastic action.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, the governors acknowledged the President’s constitutional duty to maintain law and order but noted that the conditions outlined in Section 305(3) of the Nigerian Constitution for declaring a state of emergency had not been met.
“The current political situation in Rivers State does not satisfy the criteria for declaring a state of emergency as outlined in the Constitution. Such a declaration should be considered only under extreme conditions like war, external aggression, imminent invasion, or a breakdown of public order, existential threats to Nigeria, natural disasters, or other significant public dangers,” the statement read.
The South-South Governors Forum further argued that the removal of a governor, deputy governor, or members of the House of Assembly must follow constitutional procedures as stipulated in Section 188, and suggested that due process may not have been fully considered before the emergency declaration.
“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.
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