A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an attack on democracy and an unjustified overreach of executive power.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Christian Onyegbule, representative of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), delivered the coalition’s statement, rejecting the emergency rule and demanding its immediate reversal.
The civil society groups accused the Federal Government of weaponizing the declaration for political gain rather than addressing the root causes of the crisis. They argued that the decision unfairly punishes the people of Rivers State while shielding those responsible for the unrest.
Citing historical precedents, they reminded President Tinubu of his past opposition to a similar measure by former President Goodluck Jonathan in the North-East, labeling his current stance as hypocritical.
They also criticised the National Assembly for endorsing what they described as an undemocratic move, pointing out that the legislature had previously defended democracy in similar situations.
The coalition urged Nigerians to resist what they called a dangerous precedent and a violation of the Constitution, appealing to both national and international stakeholders to intervene.
“Given the National Assembly’s endorsement of this unconstitutional act, we call on all Nigerians not to remain silent as history threatens to repeat itself. The slippery slope of emergency rule in the Western Region in 1962 serves as a stark reminder of where unchecked executive overreach can lead,” the groups stated.
They also rejected claims made by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, linking Governor Siminalayi Fubara to alleged security threats in Rivers State. The coalition dismissed these accusations as an attempt to justify the emergency declaration, challenging the Attorney General to provide credible evidence of any real security threats.
Speaking at the event, Karl Uchegbu, Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, South-South Zone, accused the Federal Government of handling the matter unfairly and warned that insisting on the emergency rule could lead to legal battles.
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The civil society groups outlined four key demands:
- Immediate reversal of the state of emergency and restoration of constitutional order.
- An impartial investigation into the root causes of the political crisis.
- Constructive dialogue among all stakeholders to resolve the impasse.
- Respect for judicial decisions, ensuring full implementation of Supreme Court rulings.
The coalition cautioned that if the emergency rule is not reversed, it could severely undermine democracy, disrupt the state’s economy, escalate security risks, and worsen hardships for residents.
The statement was signed by leaders of several civil society organisations, including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Rivers Coalition for Human Rights (RCHR), Centre for Labour Rights and Development, Human Rights Africa Network (HURA), and seven other groups
