Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

In a statement on Wednesday, March 19, Amaechi called the suspension “illegal, undemocratic, and unconstitutional.” He urged the National Assembly, state governors, and Nigerians to reject what he described as an “illegal power grab.”

Amaechi argued that President Tinubu does not have the legal power to remove an elected governor. He referred to Section 188 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which states that a governor can only be removed through an impeachment process, not by a presidential order.

He also criticized Tinubu for using Section 305, which allows a state of emergency. According to Amaechi, this law does not give the President the right to dissolve elected government officials.

Amaechi accused certain political forces of trying to take control of Rivers State through illegal means. He urged governors, lawmakers, and Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations, to resist what he called a “dangerous attack on democracy.”

The former governor also praised state governors who had spoken against the suspension and called on more leaders to join the fight to protect democracy in Nigeria.