Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, told Daily Trust that he first decided to say nothing about the state of emergency that was proclaimed in Rivers State because he thought that lawmakers would intervene and make things right. He was disappointed, therefore, that the National Assembly had not only refrained from taking action but had also approved the president’s choice without conducting a thorough discussion.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
He strongly criticized the 10th National Assembly, accusing it of being overly submissive to the executive. He argued that instead of acting as an independent arm of government, the legislature had become a rubber stamp, approving presidential decisions without proper scrutiny. He particularly condemned the use of a voice vote to approve the emergency rule, calling it a process that lacked transparency and denied Nigerians a clear record of where each senator stood on the issue.
Beyond the actions of the legislature, Kwankwaso also called on the judiciary to assert its independence. He urged judges to resist external influence and ensure that any legal challenges to the declaration of emergency were handled with fairness and objectivity. He emphasized that the judiciary has a crucial role in preventing the abuse of power and restoring confidence in the rule of law.
He warned that Tinubu’s decision to remove elected officials in Rivers State set a troubling precedent, particularly for states controlled by opposition parties. According to him, the move had created fear and uncertainty, as it suggested that the federal government could arbitrarily take control of any state that did not align with the ruling party’s interests.
Kwankwaso was particularly concerned about the involvement of the military in the crisis. He pointed out that Nigeria had worked hard to keep the military out of politics, and he found it alarming that the president, who often presents himself as a defender of democracy, would resort to such measures. He reminded Tinubu of how former President Olusegun Obasanjo made efforts to professionalize the military and prevent them from interfering in governance. He cautioned that reversing this progress could have serious long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democratic stability.
In conclusion, Kwankwaso urged the federal government to reconsider its approach, arguing that the crisis in Rivers State did not warrant such drastic measures. He insisted that the interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution used to justify the emergency rule was flawed and warned that allowing such overreach to go unchecked could encourage a culture of impunity in the country.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
