Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of violating Nigeria’s constitution by removing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Amaechi made the remarks during the 9th edition of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF) Annual Leadership Discourse held Thursday in Lagos.
The event, themed “Fearless Leadership: A Panacea for Sustainable Development,” brought together political and civic leaders from across the country.
Speaking at the forum, Amaechi expressed deep concern over what he described as the unlawful dismissal of an elected governor and the imposition of a military administrator in Rivers State. He said the move amounted to a serious constitutional breach.
“For a president who governs by personal will rather than by law, the constitution becomes irrelevant,” Amaechi said. “The declaration of an illegal and unconstitutional state of emergency in Rivers State was aided by weak institutions like the National Assembly, which has failed to act.”
He added, “The president did not just break the law—he broke the constitution, which is the foundation of our democracy. It is supposed to be the Bible of the country, and its sanctity must be preserved.”
Amaechi criticized the National Assembly for what he described as its passivity and failure to check the executive’s actions.
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“This is where governance is no longer about institutions or legality, but about the whims and caprices of an individual,” he said. “The National Assembly is very weak, and that weakness has enabled this situation.”
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this month amid a prolonged political crisis.
He subsequently suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the State House of Assembly. Retired Navy chief Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the state’s administrator.
The presidency has defended the move as a necessary step to restore order, but critics, including legal experts and opposition leaders, have called it an overreach and a threat to constitutional democracy.
As of the time of this report, the presidency has not officially responded to Amaechi’s latest remarks.