Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, has criticized the National Assembly for its ineffectiveness, claiming it has allowed President Bola Tinubu to breach the Constitution in Nigeria. He made these comments during the ninth edition of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation’s Annual Leadership Discourse, held in Lagos.
Amaechi condemned the recent suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers from the state assembly. He emphasized the need for courageous leadership, questioning whether Nigeria truly has leaders with the bravery to uphold constitutional integrity.
He stated, “Good governance is anchored on the rule of law and the separation of powers. The absence of these principles leads to arbitrary governance, where the whims of a leader dictate the law.” He criticized the current state of governance in Nigeria, asserting that it is characterized by a lack of adherence to legal frameworks.
The former governor further lamented that the president’s actions, including the declaration of an unconstitutional state of emergency in Rivers State, are facilitated by the weakness of the National Assembly. “The president didn’t just break any law; he violated the Constitution, undermining its sanctity,” he asserted.
Amaechi urged Nigerians to be proactive in opposing poor governance, warning that complacency enables bad leadership. He likened the Constitution to a sacred text that must be respected and upheld, questioning whether such respect exists in Nigeria today.
In his closing remarks, he called for a collective awakening among citizens to hold their leaders accountable and ensure that governance is conducted in accordance with established laws.
