…As Soyinka Breaks Silence, Condemns Declaration of State of emergency, Suspension Fubara
By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Barely forty-eight hours after endorsing the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, the House of Representatives has denied allegations that its members received a Five Thousand Dollars inducement to ratify President Bola Tinubu’s request for a State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese described the allegation as false and malicious.
He said Thursday’s resolution endorsing the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State was done out of patriotism and in the interest of restoring lasting peace to the State as well as ensuring national stability in line with the constitutional responsibilities of parliament.
Philip Agbese dismissed any suggestion that lawmakers were bribed as pure fiction being peddled by those who seek to distort facts and create unnecessary tension in the country.
The House of Representatives says it remains an independent institution guided by democratic principles, the rule of law, and the collective will of the Nigerian people.
However, the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Saturday unmuted his microphone and condemned in strong terms, the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in the state. Soyinka argues that the actions are a direct violation of the principles of federalism enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
In a statement issued today, Soyinka described the suspension as an unprecedented move that undermines the autonomy of state governments and the very fabric of Nigeria’s federal system. “This suspension, coupled with the declaration of a state of emergency, is fundamentally against the spirit of federalism,” Soyinka said, emphasizing that such actions erode the checks and balances that ensure a fair distribution of power between the federal and state governments.
The suspension of Governor Fubara and the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State have raised concerns across political, legal, and civil society circles. The federal government has cited ongoing security challenges as the primary reason for these drastic measures. However, Soyinka views the move as an overreach of presidential power.
In his statement, Soyinka called for a critical revision of Nigeria’s constitution, specifically to limit the scope of the president’s powers. He stressed that such constitutional amendments should be aimed at preventing the centralization of authority, which he argued could lead to authoritarianism.
“The president’s unchecked powers have led to an imbalance in the governance system, and the recent events in Rivers State exemplify the dangers of this concentration of power,” Soyinka said. He emphasized that the current state of affairs calls for an urgent dialogue on the structure of Nigerian governance to ensure greater accountability and protect the rights of citizens.
The veteran activist also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to demand democratic principles that safeguard the independence of state governments and prevent any erosion of constitutional freedoms.
