Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend elected officials in Rivers State, warning that such actions could tarnish Nigeria’s reputation.
Speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday, March 22, 2025, Jonathan criticized the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all state House of Assembly members for six months. He described the move as troubling, stating that it casts the country in a negative light.
The suspension followed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. The President justified the decision as necessary to restore peace amid ongoing political tensions between the governor and lawmakers.
However, Jonathan’s remarks underscore growing concerns about the impact of the suspension on Nigeria’s democracy. He noted that while former presidents usually refrain from commenting on political issues to avoid escalating tensions, he felt compelled to speak due to calls from Nigerians, particularly as a leader from the Niger Delta.
Jonathan also lamented the increasing influence of individuals over the judiciary, arguing that such interference erodes public trust in the legal system.
In response to the crisis, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state administrator to oversee governance. The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly.
The President defended his decision, stating, “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 in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
