Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s security and economy sectors, not in Rivers State.
Ndume stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Daily.
He said the president should shift his full attention to solving the country’s most pressing problems — insecurity, poor economy and the welfare of citizens.
“Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things – security, welfare of citizens and economy.
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“His attention should go there as number 1, then he should create a state of emergency in those areas,” he said.
Ndume, who described himself as a democrat, also criticised Tinubu’s move to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He called it the wrong step and said it took him by surprise.
The president had announced the emergency rule on March 18, following a long-standing political crisis in the oil-rich state.
In a national broadcast, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all state lawmakers for six months.
He then appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas to manage the state during that period.
Tinubu based his action on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows a state of emergency during times of disaster, conflict, or danger to the nation.
But Ndume said the president should have handled the matter differently by bringing the political leaders together to settle the issues through dialogue.
“I feel that the President would have worked seriously on bringing them and solving the problem rather than declaring a state of emergency. Call them, seat them down and say ‘go and sort your problem,’” he said.
He also rejected claims that the politicians in Rivers disobeyed Tinubu’s earlier instructions.
“How can you ignore the President? When he removed them now, did they ignore the removal?” Ndume asked.
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