Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Rivers lawmakers recently suspended in President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency in the State, have been partying in London.
Wike had a treat for the lawmakers who played a major role in the sweeping away of governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members who are in the United Kingdom for Legislative Capacity Building, to a dinner,” Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and social media, Lere Olayinka, posted on his X social media platform.
Wike left Nigeria on Sunday after meeting with political allies in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18 and replacing governor Fubara an elected governor with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), as sole administrator for an initial six-month term, has been criticised by a US based Institute of Law Research and Development, ILAWDUN.
A statement by Prof. Cyprian Edward-Ekpo, Director of ILAWDUN and Professor of International Environmental and Public International Law said the state of emergency was an assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
“If the Supreme Court upholds the emergency declaration and the suspension of a democratically elected state governor and legislature by another democratically elected official, it will permanently stain your legacy. You will be remembered as the President who undermined constitutional principles and legitimised illegality.
“A state of emergency can only be justified when there is a genuine breakdown of law and order that overwhelms the Nigeria Police Force conditions that were not present in Rivers State.”
He warned the Supreme Court not to rule in favour of the state of emergency after seven state governors filed a suit challenging President Tinubu’s move.
“The Supreme Court Justices cannot, in good conscience, sustain such an obvious constitutional violation. Should the Court resort to dismissing the case on technical grounds or employ orchestrated tactics, it will be perceived as judicial compromise under your influence, further eroding public trust in both the judiciary and your administration,” Edward-Ekpo stated.
