A group of Nigerian lawyers, under the umbrella of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja on Friday, in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The legal practitioners, led by Mr. Beeior Orpin, presented a petition to the U.S. Ambassador, arguing that President Tinubu’s action was necessary due to the growing unrest in the state. They claimed that the suspended Governor, Siminilayi Fubara, had caused chaos by demolishing the state’s legislative arm and acting as a tyrant. They also referenced a Supreme Court ruling that allegedly described Fubara as a despot.
The lawyers emphasized that under Section 305 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the president has the power to declare a state of emergency when public safety is at risk. They stated that before the emergency rule, lives and property in Rivers State were under serious threat. They expressed their gratitude for the president’s swift intervention, which they said has restored calm.
The lawyers also called on the U.S., as a champion of democracy, to support President Tinubu in his efforts to bring peace and order to Rivers State.
