By Kayode Olopade
Spiritual leader and Founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has called for the resignation of Vice President Kashim Shettima over his recent comments challenging the constitutionality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's emergency declaration in Rivers State.
The Vice President, during a public event in Abuja on July 10, reportedly questioned the legal basis of the emergency rule, stating that “even the President lacks the constitutional power to suspend a councillor, let alone a sitting governor.”
Reacting to Shettima’s remarks, Maharaj Ji condemned what he described as a “disloyal and ethnically charged” deviation from the collective responsibility of the executive, asserting that Shettima’s stance undermines the unity and authority of the Tinubu-led administration.
> “If the Vice President lacks the will to defend his boss, then he has no business being in governance. He should resign now,” Maharaj Ji declared.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State following a prolonged and escalating political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The move, which temporarily suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the 32-member State House of Assembly, has sparked national debate over its constitutional merit. To oversee the state's administration, the President appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator.
Maharaj Ji emphasized that the decision was guided by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to take extraordinary measures in times of grave threat to peace and public safety.
> “A state of emergency allows the President to suspend normal constitutional procedures to secure public order. The political anarchy in Rivers, coupled with rising militant vandalism of oil pipelines, warranted urgent action,” he explained.
He further clarified that the President had sent formal letters to both chambers of the National Assembly seeking approval, thereby fulfilling constitutional requirements.
Contrary to Shettima’s position, Maharaj Ji described the President’s actions as both lawful and necessary, stating that it prevented a total collapse of democratic governance in the state.
> “Tinubu didn’t remove Governor Fubara—he created a cooling period to de-escalate tension. In fact, Fubara himself acknowledged the President’s intervention saved him from imminent impeachment by 27 lawmakers,” he stated.
The spiritual leader also noted that past leaders lacked the courage to confront crises decisively, praising Tinubu’s assertiveness and political maturity.
> “Former President Obasanjo couldn’t remove Tinubu during their Lagos impasse. Yet Tinubu, even then, remained resolute and strategic. His understanding of Nigeria’s political terrain is unmatched,” he added.
Maharaj Ji criticized what he termed as an entrenched Northern political mentality that views the presidency as its exclusive entitlement.
> “The problem is the ethnic mentality—‘pay a Southerner and control him’—which has long been the thinking of Northern elites. Shettima’s frequent opposition to his boss suggests a loyalty crisis,” he stated.
He warned against attempts to derail the current administration through internal dissent or external political manipulation, describing them as part of a broader plan to destabilize Nigeria’s progress.
He urged legal luminaries and constitutional scholars—including Professor Itse Sagay, Afe Babalola, and Mike Ozekhome—to recognize the difference between a criminal act, such as the demolition of the state House of Assembly, and a constitutional emergency.
> “Fubara's actions amounted to treason and anarchy. Rather than defend him, legal minds should uphold the Constitution and national interest,” Maharaj Ji asserted.
He also appealed to Nigerians across all sectors—workers, students, intellectuals, and patriots—to support the Tinubu administration in achieving its Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his concluding remarks, Satguru Maharaj Ji reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and progress, emphasizing the divine significance of the Tinubu presidency.
> “By the Grace of Maharaj Ji, Nigeria is on the path to recovery. The President is strong and determined, and any attempt to sow discord through political chicanery must be resisted,” he warned.
> “Nigeria, Nigerians, and the Black race globally will witness a new dawn through President Tinubu’s leadership. Long live the President. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment