A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu's suspension of the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara; his Deputy, Ngozi Odu; and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly

In a statement on Wednesday, Amaechi described the President's decision as brazen and unilaterally reckless.

He said with the singular move, Tinubu has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State, adding that it clearly violates Nigeria's Constitution which he swore to uphold.

"Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself," the former governor said.

According to Amaechi, a democratically elected state governor cannot be removed from office by a presidential proclamation.

He also stated that the suspension of two key democratically elected arms of government in Rivers State by the President "evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast."

He said the "unlawful suspension" of elected democratic institutions in Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the state by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers.

He revealed that the unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.

"At this inauspicious moment in our nation's trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand," he said.

Amaechi urged politicians across the divide to speak up and rise to halt the nation's descent into totalitarianism.

"State governors and legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.

"As a former state governor and chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President," he said.

He commended the governors that have spoken publicly against the suspension which he described as a very dangerous affront on Nigeria's Constitution and democracy.

ASA