Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will approach the court to challenge the decision of President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
He said the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting on Wednesday where it unanimously decided to challenge the actions of the president in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Governor Makinde made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement, tagged “Stand Up, Even If You Stand Alone” in the second edition of his bi-monthly newsletter for the month of March.
He said the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the was an illegality that right-thinking members of the society must oppose.
He called on all Nigerians to speak up if they see anything that may scuttle the growth of democracy and stifle the development of the country.
“As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.
“This is why I stand today [Thursday] to say that the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of the society must oppose.
“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.
“And I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership.
“Yesterday [Wednesday], the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.
“The time to act is now!,” Governor Makinde declared.
The Oyo State helmsman also said he had a lot of thinking about the actions and inactions of the people and how they contribute to the growth or decline of the community.
He said the thinking was part of what informed the resolve of the Oyo State Security Council, at its expanded meeting on Thursday, to address the threats of bandits, illegal miners, errant herdsmen and other criminal elements in the state.
“Earlier today [Thursday], we had an expanded meeting of the Oyo State Security Council to address the threats that we are facing with errant herdsmen, illegal miners as well as criminals and bandits being pushed out of the North who are seeking refuge in the South-West and other areas.
“One thing is certain: Oyo State will not welcome such criminals. We will push back to ensure that they are flushed out of our state.
“And so, our deliberation today [Thursday] was about the strategies we will deploy and the roles that we all should be playing to ensure that we continue to keep our dear state safe and secure.
“We must do whatever it takes to protect the relative peace that has helped us grow our state’s GDP by over 50 per cent since 2019,” Governor Makinde declared.
