A human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has said that there is no reason for celebration in Rivers State with the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara following the end of emergency rule in the state.
Adegboruwa stated this on Thursday, while responding to questions in an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a programme on Channels Television,
He said that Nigerian politicians should instead draw lessons from the episode and work to strengthen democracy by respecting constitutional provisions.
“I do not see any cause for celebration in any way. If people exercise their mandate to elect others into office, as they did to Siminalayi Fubara and all the members of the House of Assembly, it is a sacred mandate that should be preserved at all costs,” he said.
The senior lawyer stressed the need for judicial interpretation of the President’s constitutional powers during a state of emergency, particularly under Section 305.
He also described the section as “a controversial provision” that leaves gaps in defining the extent of presidential authority.
“When there is a need to declare a state of emergency, the consequential powers to be exercised by the President must be stated definitely. If there is a reason for a single individual, such as the President — with all due respect — to interfere with that mandate, the circumstances should be spelt out within the Constitution.” Adegboruwa added.
