State of Emergency: Wike now a law unto himself, he was playing out your script – PDP Govs knocks Tinubu

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing the action as a grievous mistake and an attack on democracy.

The PDP Governors’ Forum, in a statement on Wednesday, slammed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that it was premeditated and politically motivated. The forum also criticized the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the state administrator.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP governors, Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Forum, condemned Tinubu’s silence on the role played by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the political crisis.

“He (Wike) has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive,” the statement read.

The forum also warned that Tinubu’s actions pose a great threat to Nigeria’s democracy and could escalate political and security crises in the country.

“This unwarranted attack on Rivers State, the PDP, and other opposition parties is the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country today. It is an ill wind that will blow no one any good. This dangerous course of action will only deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and undermine national cohesion and stability.”

The governors further aligned with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which has already raised concerns about the constitutionality of Tinubu’s suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The forum stated that it would approach the court to seek interpretation of Section 305(3) of the Constitution, which outlines the conditions for declaring a state of emergency.

The PDP governors, therefore, urged President Tinubu to reconsider his decision, warning that allowing it to stand would set a dangerous precedent in Nigerian politics.

Full statement reads,

“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum ( PDPGF) notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025.

“We stand in solidarity with His Excellency , Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history. There is no other time that our philosophy of “TOUCH ONE TOUCH ALL” is more apt than now.

“He who goes to the court of equity must go with clean hands. Mr. President , your silence on the active role played by your Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. He has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive.

“We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today, the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good. It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard won democracy, but will exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in it’s response signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the President of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor, and the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The NBA affirmed their commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria. In their words, “A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

“The Forum completely aligns itself with the NBA and promises to subject Section 305 (3) of the Constitution to judicial interpretation. This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand.

“Mr President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grevious mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late.“