Former President Goodluck Jonathan has strongly criticized the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a clear misuse of power by the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
Speaking at the annual colloquium organized by the Haske Satumari Foundation in Abuja on Saturday, Jonathan revealed that many had sought his views on the political crisis in Rivers following Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers for six months.
While acknowledging that former presidents typically refrain from commenting on the actions of their successors to maintain political stability, Jonathan said he felt compelled to address the issue. He referenced an Indian proverb to illustrate his point:
“If someone is truly asleep, you can wake them up. But if they’re pretending to sleep, it’s much harder.”
He added, “Those in charge of Nigeria’s executive, legislative, and judicial arms understand what is right but have deliberately ignored it. This is a blatant abuse of power across all three branches of government. They are pretending not to see the injustice, making it even more difficult to correct.”
Jonathan’s remarks come amid growing controversy over the emergency rule and the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his political ally-turned-rival, Nyesom Wike.
The National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule through a voice vote has also sparked debate, with critics questioning whether the decision met the required two-thirds majority.
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