Nigeria’s democracy is facing one of its toughest questions yet in the never-ending political debacle in Rivers State. We have been here before. There was the Third Term that President Olusegun Obasanjo said he never wanted, even though everything in the country revolved around it. Nigeria survived that thanks to a National Assembly conscious of its place in history. Then there was the “doctrine of necessity” that thankfully saved the Federation from a constitutional crisis under President Yar’Adua as his government transited to President Goodluck Jonathan in acting capacity. You could also count the multiple Anambra political battles including Ngige, Peter Obi, the Uba brothers and the likes. Add Oyo and the NURTW’s incredible removal of a governor.
The State of Emergency that was just declared by President Bola Tinubu is a culmination of many wrongs, even though those who are now awake and loud preferred to not see or say much until now. This may not be the point of denouement, but hopefully, we aren’t far off.
As expected, social media is awash with the legality of the president’s move to suspend the governor, his deputy and the House of Assembly. Even those who were once ensconced in cabinet, in silence and without resignation when governors were illegally removed, entire villages turned to rubble or state of emergencies declared have suddenly mounted the National Podium of Morality.