By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Jonathan maintained that suspending elected officials in Rivers State could cast Nigeria in bad light.
He made the remark at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” he said.
Jonathan while sharing his thoughts about the political turmoil in Rivers State, said although it is not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues in the polity so as not to heat up the polity, he insisted that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is heavily dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country.
The former Bayelsa State governor’s comment is coming a day after most governors from the South-South region condemned Tinubu’s decision in Rivers.
The New Diplomat had reported how the Peoples Democratic Party governors declared solidarity for Rivers suspended helmsman, Siminalayi Fubara, while stressing their resolve to challenge the declaration of emergency rule in the oil-producing state in court.
The governors elected on the platform of the PDP maintained that the development is unconstitutional and threatens Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Recall that Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
