Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has criticised the emergency rule slammed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last Tuesday as excessive, and a rape on the spirit of federalism.
He spoke at different interviews with Channels Television, and The Africa Report.
Apart from declaring the emergency rule, the President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months to resolve the dispute in the state.
He immediately appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.
In its own version titled , ‘It’s against spirit of federalism’, Soyinka faults Rivers emergency rule’, The Africa Report, as reported by Daily Trust, quoted Soyinka saying: “If it is constitutionally right, then I think it is about time we sat down and amended the constitution to make sure that it operates as a genuine federal entity.”
Noting that the Nigerian constitution gives the president too much powers, the Nobel laureate called for an amendment to some sections of the constitution.
His words: “The government is over-centralised. The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision but in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association.
“I find that the constitution has put too much power in the hands of the president. The system we are operating right now is not the best for a pluralistic society like ours. That is a fundamental principle I have always held.”
Soyinka reiterated his call for a national conference which he said would provide an opportunity to “really accord ourselves an authentic people’s constitution”.
