Kenneth Okonkwo, the veteran Nollywood actor and politician, has accused President Bola Tinubu of exploiting the state of emergency in Rivers State to seize control of local government councils through proxies.
Speaking via a statement on Saturday, which was released on his official 𝕏 account, Okonkwo argued that President Bola Tinubu did not lift or suspend the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
He added that the proclamation issued by Tinubu expired naturally and automatically after six months, contrary to the President’s declaration on Wednesday that he lifted the suspension.
The Labour Party chieftain argued that President Tinubu had the power to revoke the emergency within six months when Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara publicly declared that they had settled, but he refused to do so, so he could organise local government elections not known to law, using the Sole Administrator as a proxy.
Okonkwo stated further that President Tinubu has no power to reinstate Fubara as Governor, as only the people of Rivers State and their elected representatives have such powers.
“Tinubu did not lift or suspend the state of emergency. The life span of any state of emergency is six months. Section 305(6)(c) states that “A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect after a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force.”
“The state of emergency elapsed on its own. Tinubu had the power to revoke it before six months when Wike and Fubara publicly declared that they have settled, but he refused to do it so that his regime would complete its illegality of usurping the power of the Governor to organise voodoo local government elections not known to law, using the Sole Administrator as a proxy.
“Another insinuation that he reinstated Fubara and other elected representatives of Rivers State is insulting to the sensibilities of the Rivers people. You can not reinstate whom you can not remove. It’s only the Rivers people, through their elected representatives and the State judiciary who can remove the Governor and his Deputy, not Tinubu,” the statement read.
