Following the statement by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, that President Bola Tinubu might declare a state of emergency in any state threatening Nigeria’s economic interests, opposition leaders and citizens from states governed by opposition parties have vowed to resist such actions.
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Fagbemi’s remarks came in defense of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, which saw the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly. The AGF had warned that the Federal Government would act decisively against any state threatening the country’s stability, signaling that similar actions could be taken in other states if necessary.
The AGF’s comments were met with outrage from opposition leaders, who decried them as a threat to democracy and a sign of authoritarianism. Leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as well as residents of opposition-controlled states, have expressed concern that such actions could be politically motivated.
Ekemini Uba, the PDP’s legal adviser in Akwa Ibom State, stated that the AGF’s statement aimed to instill fear among opposition parties, noting that the constitutional procedure for declaring a state of emergency is clear and should not be used as a political weapon. He emphasized that emergency rule should only be declared to restore peace and stability, not to suppress political dissent.
In Kano State, NNPP Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa and political analyst Prof. Kamilu Sani Fagge criticized the federal government’s actions, accusing President Tinubu of undermining democracy and citing similar crises in states like Katsina and Sokoto that have not led to emergency declarations. They warned that the declaration of emergency in Rivers State was an attempt to stifle political opposition and create instability.
Opposition leaders, including those in Abia and Taraba states, have also condemned the AGF’s comments as a signal of a dangerous trend toward dictatorship. Senator Adolphus Wabara from Abia called the remarks a “dangerous signal” for Nigeria’s democracy, while Andeta’rang Irammae, spokesperson for the PDP in Taraba, accused the AGF of undermining the nation’s Constitution.
Critics such as Godwin Peter and Istifanus Mashi further emphasized that such actions could push Nigeria towards a “democratic dictatorship,” warning that the unilateral decisions made by the President, including the suspension of a state governor, went against the principles of democratic governance.
Political analyst and lawyer, Chief Festus Ogwuche, expressed concern that the AGF’s comments might escalate tensions across states, particularly those governed by the opposition, and called for legal scrutiny of the emergency measures taken in Rivers State.
In Rivers State itself, opposition leaders have warned that the federal government’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, leading to the erosion of democratic structures. Hilda Dokubo, Chairman of the Labour Party in Rivers, described the situation as “shameful” and compared it to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, while Igenewari Dom, a PDP chieftain in Bayelsa, stated that Nigerians would resist any further attempts to impose emergency rule in opposition states.
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