By Ismaeel Aleem
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to issue a public apology for suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Osadolor accused the President of overstepping his constitutional authority, arguing that the move undermines the separation of powers and poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Speaking in Abuja, Osadolor reacted to Tinubu’s recent address announcing the end of the six-month state of emergency, which had been proclaimed on 18 March 2025 amid escalating political tensions in Rivers State.
The emergency declaration suspended the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the State House of Assembly, citing a total governance paralysis due to conflicts between the executive and legislative arms.
Osadolor described the President’s intervention as an overreach, particularly highlighting the tone of Tinubu’s speech towards state governors.
“Yes, I think the President is overreaching when I read the last paragraph of his speech, where he spoke to governors as if he were a headmaster in a classroom,” he stated.
He emphasised the need for Tinubu to recognise the constitutional division of powers, adding, “He should apologise. I felt he should understand fully well that there is a clear division of powers.”
The PDP leader’s remarks come in the wake of Tinubu’s defence of the emergency rule, which he justified under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to avert anarchy following Supreme Court observations of a governance vacuum in Rivers.
The crisis stemmed from a rift between Governor Fubara, a PDP member, and pro-Wike lawmakers aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now a key figure in the Tinubu administration.
This impasse halted budget approvals and led to vandalism of oil assets, prompting federal intervention.
PDP spokespersons have long criticised the emergency as politically motivated to favour Wike’s faction, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) maintains it restored order.
Legal challenges to the declaration persist in courts, with over 40 cases filed against it.
As Rivers State transitions back to normalcy, Osadolor’s demand underscores opposition concerns about democratic erosion under Tinubu’s leadership.
He urged the President to reflect on the implications of such actions, warning that they could embolden authoritarian tendencies.
PDP leaders have vowed to pursue accountability through legal and political channels, calling for a recommitment to constitutionalism ahead of the 2027 elections.
