Former President Goodluck Jonathan has slammed the recent suspension of elected officials in Rivers State. He warned that the move could harm Nigeria’s reputation and weaken its democratic values.
On March 19, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared an emergency in Rivers State. He made this decision after political tensions rose and pipeline vandalism incidents occurred. As a result, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state legislative assembly faced suspension for six months. The president appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the military administrator to oversee the state during this period.
Jonathan spoke at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja. He cautioned that suspending elected officials this way might damage Nigeria’s image. He stressed the need to uphold democratic principles and warned against actions that could derail the country’s democratic path.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also criticized the president’s decision. They argued that an emergency declaration does not give the power to suspend or dissolve elected state governments. The NBA said such actions threaten the rule of law and could set a risky precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
This situation marks the first emergency rule declaration in over a decade. The last time Nigeria witnessed such action was in 2013, under Jonathan’s administration. Then, emergency rule affected several northeastern states due to Boko Haram insurgency. However, unlike the current case, governors remained in office.
Many Nigerians fear that suspending elected leaders could weaken the country’s democratic values. Jonathan’s message serves as a warning to preserve democracy while tackling security challenges.
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