Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dele Momodu has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “anti-democratic.”
Tinubu’s decision, which sparked widespread criticism, included suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months due to the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Momodu joined a growing number of public figures across the country in opposing the president’s action.
“I think it is very unfortunate. I know President Tinubu very, very, very well. Though I’ve not been in the same party [with him] and all that, we were together in exile, and he fought gallantly for this democracy. So a lot of us, co-comrades at that time, are actually very embarrassed that we have a pro-democracy leader in government, and yet what we are witnessing is worse than dictatorship,” he said on Monday.
“I’m pleading with President Bola Tinubu, ‘Please don’t kill democracy in Nigeria.’ Everybody who loves him will tell him this. I don’t; I’ve not asked him for anything or anything, but we love him for his contributions to the motivation in the back, which is what is going down the drain,” Momodu said.
The PDP chieftain accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidating the opposition, warning him to “watch your back”.
“I’m saying it now openly to millions of Nigerians that people are deceiving President Tinubu, and he should not allow people to deceive you,” he said on the show.
“He should just do his job. The only thing that can guarantee a second time is to do your job well. You do not need to intimidate anybody.”