Living Jamala, a political and policy analyst, has cautioned against extending the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State by citing President Bola Tinubu’s 10-day working leave and the National Assembly recess.
The suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly was deemed unlawful by Jamala, a lawyer, in an interview with The Guardian.
“The process for terminating the emergency rule is still the proclamation by the President,” Jamala said, refusing to acknowledge that the president was correct in establishing a state of emergency in Rivers State. He can declare the restoration of democratic governance from anywhere, even if he is on a 10-day working leave.
He asserts that since the system was established for a certain amount of time, it will inevitably come to an end.
The declaration of the emergency regime was made within a six-month timeframe. When the six months are up, the emergency regime in Rivers State ends due to time constraints, assuming the president is unable to issue a proclamation ending it.
“Neither the National Assembly nor any other law stipulates that the National Assembly must convene and authorize the majority of the House’s proclamation to lift the emergency rule. Therefore, he clarified, “the end of the emergency regime cannot be determined by the President and the Assembly being on vacation.”
For Fubara, no new oath
Jamala rejected the idea that after the emergency expires, Governor Fubara would have to take a new oath of office.
It is not necessary for Fubara to take a new oath. It is comparable to a governor of a state announcing the lifting of a state curfew. Therefore, the president ought to simply declare that democratic governance has been reinstated. Fubara will not be allowed to run for office again if he takes a new oath, he cautioned.
The analyst went on to say that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the sole administrator, ought to deliver his report to President Tinubu directly rather than Governor Fubara.
Jamala emphasized that Ibas is answerable to the President rather than Governor Fubara.
He also emphasized the need to fill resignation-related vacancies in the State Assembly while it is still in existence.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to fill a new position because, for example, Edison Ehie resigned from both his position and the Assembly,” he stated.
