Ajibola Basiru Tells Why Tinubu Should Extend State Of Emergency In Rivers To Osun

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has called on President Bola Tinubu to extend the recently declared State of Emergency in Rivers State to Osun, citing the breakdown of local government administration in the state.

Speaking exclusively to TheSun.ng from Saudi Arabia, Basiru commended President Tinubu for taking decisive action in Rivers, describing it as a necessary step to prevent the state from descending into chaos.

He argued that the President’s intervention demonstrates his neutrality and commitment to upholding democracy.

“The decision of Mr. President is a welcome one. It is aimed at salvaging democracy and ensuring that Rivers does not become a failed state. This move proves that he is a statesman who prioritizes the interests of Nigerians over partisanship,” Basiru stated.

He criticized political actors in Rivers for failing to prioritize the welfare of the state’s residents, adding that Tinubu’s intervention aligns with constitutional provisions to maintain order.

“In view of Rivers State’s significance to the Nigerian economy, we cannot allow the crisis to escalate to a level that threatens national stability. The President’s stance sends a strong message that he will not tolerate illegality,” he added.

Addressing critics who question the President’s authority to suspend a sitting governor, Basiru dismissed their arguments, asserting that urgent action was necessary to prevent total breakdown.

“If some lawyers claim the President lacks the power to intervene, do they want the country to collapse before he takes action? These same people misled former Governor Siminalayi Fubara into attempting to govern the state with just four members of the House of Assembly. If they disagree, they should go to court instead of endangering national peace,” he argued.

Drawing parallels to past constitutional interventions, he recalled how the doctrine of necessity was used to install former President Goodluck Jonathan, suggesting that even in the absence of explicit provisions, urgent decisions must be taken to safeguard governance and security.

Basiru then urged President Tinubu to replicate the same approach in Osun, arguing that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration had paralyzed local government functions despite a Court of Appeal ruling and legal advice from the Attorney General.

“We also call on the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency in Osun State, where the government has deliberately crippled local government administration. The law must be upheld,” he appealed.