A Professor of International Environmental and Public International Law, Cyprian Edward-Ekpo, has advised President Bola Tinubu to reverse the state of emergency imposed in Rivers State.
The professor of international environmental law warned that the emergency rule in the south-south state is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and international reputation.
It would be recalled that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the protracted political crisis and the vandalisation of oil facilities.
The President suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all House of Assembly members for six months.
Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers state and on March 20, the Senate and the House of Representatives controversially ratified Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule.
Two days later, seven PDP governors filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the action.
In a letter dated March 28, addressed to the President, Edward-Ekpo said the reversal will help reaffirm the president’s commitment to democracy, reposition his image as a leader who values the rule of law, and demonstrate that he listens to the people.
Edward-Ekpo said Tinubu’s action could have lasting consequences for his legacy and damage his reputation as a pro-democracy advocate.
He said, “Mr President, there is a seemingly straightforward yet profoundly consequential issue—one with the potential to tarnish a leader’s legacy irreversibly.
“For decades—even as far back as the 1990s when I was just a child, my ears glued to my parents’ radio, my eyes fixed on the television and newspaper headlines—you were known as a staunch pro-democracy advocate and a defender of the rule of law.
“However, the handling of the Rivers State crisis has shattered that image, erasing the memory of your once-principled political stance. It has cast doubt on the democratic values you once embodied, leaving many to question whether the ideals you championed were ever truly a part of your leadership philosophy.”
The Professor said Tinubu does not have the “legal authority” to suspend an elected governor, saying that the president was misled out of mischief or ignorance.
He stated that it was shocking that the president relied on the misinterpretation of a Supreme Court decision and unverified claims of oil pipeline vandalisation to declare the state of emergency in Rivers.
“It is clear that your advisers—whether out of mischief or ignorance—have misled you, tarnishing your reputation and bringing Nigeria into disrepute on the global stage.
“I have engaged with many individuals, including senior lawyers in Nigeria, and I have consistently maintained that you, Mr President, are not to blame for this situation. The responsibility squarely falls on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. As the chief law officer, it is Fagbemi’s duty to provide sound legal guidance and ensure that Tinubu’s decisions align with the provisions of the constitution.
“Unfortunately, in this instance, he has failed in that duty. It is particularly disheartening that a legal mind of his calibre—widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest—has handled this matter so poorly,” he said.
“Cases like this, along with the persistent global perception of Nigerians as fraudsters, contribute to constant visa denials, cancellations, and a broader distrust of our nation by the international community.”
The Director of the Institute of Law Research & Development of the United Nations also criticised the National Assembly for ratifying the emergency rule without a constituted two-thirds majority.
“What arcane magic did the national assembly conjure a two-thirds majority? he asked.
Edward-Ekpo urged Tinubu to “immediately” revoke the emergency rule and restore Funara to his position as governor.
