Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state legislature by President Bola Tinubu.
Jonathan made his remarks while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday (today).
Jonathan condemned the actions of key figures in the executive and legislative arms of government, stating that such moves paint Nigeria in a negative light.
He noted that it is uncommon for former presidents to comment on ongoing political issues to avoid inflaming tensions, but he felt compelled to speak out due to the numerous calls from Nigerians urging him to address the crisis.
The former president emphasized that the country’s image and its ability to attract investments are heavily influenced by the actions of its executive, legislature, and judiciary.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” Jonathan said.
He also criticized a situation where individuals can exert undue influence over the judiciary, arguing that such interference erodes public confidence in the justice system.
Meanwhile, on the same day (today), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) voiced support for President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, stated that no responsible government would allow a crisis to worsen before taking decisive action to protect its citizens.
Dr. Major defended Tinubu’s intervention, suggesting that the president likely acted on intelligence not available to the public.
He added that the crisis in Rivers had been aggravated by some leaders who failed to promote peace early on and only intervened later to criticize the government’s actions.