Ifeanyi Ejiofor Slams Tinubu’s Rivers State Emergency Move: A Plea to Safeguard Democracy
posted 19th March 2025
Ifeanyi Ejiofor Slams Tinubu’s Rivers State Emergency Move: A Plea to Safeguard Democracy
Rivers State, Nigeria – 19 March 2025 A fierce political storm erupted in Rivers State yesterday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly. The controversial decision has drawn sharp criticism, with legal luminary Sir Ifeanyi C. Ejiofor, Esq. (KSC) leading the charge, branding it an unconstitutional assault on Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
Ejiofor, a respected advocate and commentator, minced no words in his condemnation, calling the move a “calculated political manoeuvre” to appease a powerful figure rather than a legitimate response to any crisis. “This is a coup against democratic institutions,” he asserted, arguing that the declaration flouts the clear provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Citing Section 305, which governs emergency declarations, Ejiofor highlighted that such action is only justified in cases of war, imminent invasion, severe public disorder, or natural calamity threatening the Federation. “Rivers State faces none of these,” he insisted during a recent live broadcast. “No war, no unrest, no security threat – this is simply an abuse of executive power.”
The suspension of the state’s elected leadership has fuelled fears of a power grab over Rivers State’s lucrative resources, intensifying an already heated political battle. Ejiofor turned his ire on the National Assembly, slamming it as “the weakest and most compromised legislative body in Nigeria’s democratic history” for failing to curb the President’s overreach. He urged lawmakers to reject the declaration and restore constitutional order without delay.
Should the Legislature falter, Ejiofor warned, the burden falls on the judiciary to uphold justice. “The courts remain Nigeria’s last bastion of hope,” he said, pressing for swift action to protect the nation’s democratic integrity.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), under Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has stepped into the fray, earning Ejiofor’s applause for its timely response. “This is a pivotal moment,” he stressed. “We cannot allow constitutional violations to go unchecked – the world is watching.”
As public outrage swells, Ejiofor’s impassioned plea – “Let wisdom, justice, and the rule of law prevail” – has struck a chord, sparking a wave of support online with hashtags like #SiminalayiFubara, #RiversState, and State ofEmergency gaining traction.
With Nigeria’s democratic credentials on the line, the spotlight now shines on the National Assembly and judiciary to determine the fate of this escalating crisis.
