Former minister of information, Frank Nweke Jr, has said the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu is a concerning development.

In a statement, he said the justifications cited in the President’s statement may be plausible, but the failure to address the genesis and align action with clear constitutional order and legal precedents leaves room for conjecture and betrays altruistic intent.

He said, "People of goodwill are familiar with the actors and contentions that underpin the political impasse that denied citizens of Rivers state good order and development since May 2023. To my mind, directly addressing the parties involved and following the rule of law and laid down constitutional principles would have nipped these issues in the bud, preventing the situation from escalating.

"Good governance, improved welfare and security of lives and property, democratic freedoms of expression and association, hallmarks of a true and functioning democracy continue to be eroded for the seeming benefit of merchants of political power.

"Humans and systems are expected to evolve and improve with age and practice in the natural order of things, but it’s different in Nigeria. 26 years since the return to democratic rule, there has been a progressive deterioration in the quality, practice, and performance of the three arms and institutions of government.

"Iconoclasm, as state policy, should have no place in a constitutional democracy."

ASA