Rivers Emergency Rule: FG Deploys 10,000 Troops, Opposition Kicks

• FG has deployed 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel to Rivers State to curb pipeline vandalism.

• President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state assembly members.

• The opposition and labour unions have condemned the emergency rule, describing it as unconstitutional and an assault on democracy.

The Federal Government has deployed 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel to Rivers State to curb pipeline vandalism, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

The NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, confirmed the deployment, stating that the operatives were tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and preventing pipeline vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta.

“The NSCDC hereby warns against destruction and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure across the Niger Delta as over 10,000 operatives have been deployed to collaborate with other security agencies to provide adequate peace and security of lives and property,” Babawale said.

President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has been met with opposition from various quarters.

The opposition lawmakers and Organised Labour protested the imposition of emergency rule, describing it as unconstitutional and an assault on democracy.

“The Nigerian authorities must uphold human rights in Rivers State and ensure that the emergency does not become a cause or reason to deprive people of their rights. The suspension of democratic institutions is a setback for the rule of law. There must be safeguards for people’s rights,” said Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defended the President’s action, stating that it was a “clear signal” to other crisis-ridden states that the Federal Government will not tolerate breaches of the Constitution.

“Let the signal be sent for those who want to foment trouble,” Fagbemi said.

Fagbemi further explained that the President’s intervention was unavoidable, given the constitutional breaches in Rivers, including the demolition of the state House of Assembly and Fubara’s failure to deter militants from vandalising oil pipelines.

“The action of the President is the effect of a fundamental cause, and you cannot be treating the effect in order to cure the cause. What was the cause? The governor and members of the House of Assembly. So, you have to behave responsibly, and you must have the gut,” he stated.

The labour unions, in a joint statement, denounced the President’s action as “hasty and unconstitutional,” violating Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

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“This reckless move should deeply concern every reasonable governor and citizen who believes in the rule of law,” the statement read.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also berated President Tinubu, insisting that Fubara remained the Governor of Rivers State despite the declaration of a state of emergency and his suspension by the President.

“What President Tinubu is attempting to do is to suspend the 1999 Constitution, overturn a democratic government and foist an undemocratic regime in Nigeria in gross violation of Sections 1 (2), 14(2)(a), 180, 217(2)(b) (c) and 305 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” Ologunagba said.

The National Assembly has slated a debate on the legality of the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Tinubu.