Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has stated that suspending elected officials in Rivers State is a naked abuse of power and could tarnish the country’s image.
Jonathan made the remark at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
“These actions by key actors in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” he said.
While sharing his thoughts about the political turmoil in Rivers State, Jonathan said although it is not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues in the polity so as not to heat up the polity, he insisted that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is heavily dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country.
Jonathan’s comment on the emergency rule came after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors argued that the President Bola Tinubu’s actions were unconstitutional and threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
So, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He faulted the situation where a govt functionary can dictate to the judiciary, no man will bring his money to invest in such a country, because it is a big risk to do so.
His words: “As a former president and someone from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the governor arose, people called on me. I heard, ‘Oh, President Jonathan, oh, President Obasanjo, you should say something.’ People expected us to comment.
“But traditionally, all over the world, former presidents rarely make statements about what the current president is doing because of the tension it could create in the country. Look at America, look at other countries—it is hardly common for former presidents to intervene in such matters.
“The situation in Rivers State reminds me of an Indian proverb: If somebody is truly asleep, you can wake them up easily. But if they are only pretending to sleep, waking them up becomes impossible. The key actors in Nigeria—the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary—know the right thing to do, but they are refusing to do it. They are pretending to sleep. Waking such people is extremely difficult, but they know the right thing.
“There is a clear abuse of office, power, and privileges across the three arms of government—the executive, the parliament, and the judiciary. And I always plead with our people to understand that whatever we do affects everybody. Sometimes, we make decisions thinking they do not impact us directly.
“I have been a president before, and even after leaving office, people approach me with concerns. They ask: ‘Why is our passport not valued as much?’ ‘Why are Nigerians not given the kind of treatment we deserve at international airports?’
“No businessman will bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where a government functionary can dictate to judges what judgment they should give. No one will invest in such an economy because it is a big risk.”
He urged political leaders at all levels to act with integrity, warning that continued abuse of power could lead to national instability.
“If we want to build a nation where our children and grandchildren can thrive, we must strive to do what is right. It may cost us, but we must be willing to pay the price,” he added.