Protection of Powers of  Enactment of a State of Emergency in any part of Nigeria

Joseph Oshoke

No Constitutional justification for a DECLARATION of a State of Emergency in Rivers State as at this day the 19th day of June, 2024.

Obasanjo did not set up a parallel government in Bauchi State.

Obasanjo enacted a State of emergency in Ekiti State, where the House of Assembly set up an impeachment panel at Ekiti State, instead of the CJ. This was a grievous Constitutional breach and the Speaker Aderemi, latter swore in himself as an impostor Governor. Obasanjo as President has no option than to declare a State of Emergency at Ekiti for the unconstitutional acts of the then Speaker. *You cannot have a phantom governor rule a State in Nigeria.

The Constitution does not give any past Governor or Members of the House of Assembly as of 1999 till date any power to set up by DELIBRATE machination a parallel “Executive government”, in any State of the Federal of Nigeria. Let any person(s) tinkering with this idea of running a parallel government in Rivers State know and NOTE FIRMLY that the people of Rivers State always have the Constitutional will to protect their democratic integrity and instructions.

The President has sworn to an oath of office to protect the Constitution and not act by either commission or omission to connive, to accept the set up of any illegal structures or acts to breach or undermine the Constitution by any reckless or illegal deployment of the the instrument of the enactment of a STATE OF EMERGENCY in any part of Nigeria; more so, as a serving Minister of the Federal cabinet is purportedly directly or indirectly involved in all the troubles in Rivers State today; although I cannot independently verify the latter.

Care must be taken to protect the Constitutional integrity of the Governor and Government of Rivers State of Nigeria.This is the task the Presidency and all well meaning and reasonable citizens of Nigeria must ensure. It is not a sign of weakness.

Recently there has been a call by restive and agitated individuals and political groups for the Declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Joseph E. Oshoke, esq. is a Nigerian based Legal practitioner