Presidency Fires Back at Jonathan, Soyinka Over Rivers Emergency Rule Criticism

Regarding their position on President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the presidency has condemned Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement released on Sunday, March 22, Temitope Ajayi, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, stated that while Jonathan and Soyinka were free to hold their own views, they should acknowledge that President Tinubu had a nation to lead.

“Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians who have offered varied opinions on the president’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their own opinions.

“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the Presidency stated.

It insisted that Tinubu had an obligation to protect Nigeria’s unity and would not allow any state or region to descend into chaos.

Jonathan condemned the suspension of elected officials in Rivers state after Tinubu proclaimed an emergency on Tuesday, March 18, according to The Intercept.

The governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and every member of the state’s House of Assembly are among the suspended officials.

READ ALSO: Soyinka Condemns Rivers Emergency Rule, Says It Violates Federalism

The president claims that a lengthy political dispute between Fubara and parliamentarians who supported his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was the reason behind the announcement.

Soyinka contended that the action went against federalist ideals, while Jonathan cautioned that the suspension of elected officials damaged Nigeria’s reputation.

Additionally, Soyinka opposed the action, pointing out that federalism was violated by the way it was enforced.

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