We Won’t Succumb: Anger Follows New Threat of Emergency Rule Declaration

 Opposition leaders and residents across 11 states have strongly reacted to a recent threat by Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the potential declaration of a state of emergency in any state that threatens the nation’s economic stability.

According to a report by the Vanguard, Fagbemi’s comments came after President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Sim Fubara and other democratic structures in Rivers State, triggering widespread condemnation.

Critics argue the move undermines the Constitution, as it lacks legal grounds for suspending a governor, deputy, or state legislature.

Opposition leaders from the PDP, NNPP, and other parties view the AGF’s statements as a political tactic to intimidate and stifle dissent, labeling it a step toward dictatorship. They argue that the government is using emergency powers for partisan gain, noting that states like Borno, Benue, and Sokoto, facing severe insecurity, have not seen similar interventions.

Legal experts, political analysts, and state leaders express concerns over this potential shift towards authoritarianism, citing the threat of emergency rule as a precursor to the dismantling of democratic structures in opposition-controlled states.

Many believe that the President’s actions in Rivers are politically motivated, aimed at silencing opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi has criticized the declaration, suggesting it is a power grab to intimidate governors into supporting the President’s re-election bid. As tensions rise, opposition parties are mobilizing to resist what they see as an erosion of Nigeria’s democratic foundations.