Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend elected officials in Rivers State, warning that such actions could tarnish Nigeria’s democratic reputation.
Speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday, Jonathan expressed disappointment over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” Jonathan stated.
President Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following political unrest between the governor and state lawmakers. He announced the suspension of elected officials for an initial period of six months and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state administrator.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,” Tinubu said, emphasizing that the judiciary would continue functioning as usual.
Jonathan, responding to widespread calls for his comment as a prominent Niger Delta leader, stressed that the credibility of Nigeria’s governance structure—including the executive, legislature, and judiciary—directly influences investor confidence in the country. He also criticized undue interference in the judiciary, arguing that it erodes public trust in the legal system.
President Tinubu cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for his decision, stating that the measure was necessary to restore stability. He noted that the proclamation had been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players,” Tinubu stated.
The suspension has sparked nationwide debates over executive power, state autonomy, and the broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
