The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has described former President Goodluck Jonathan and Professor Wole Soyinka’s comments on the emergency rule in Rivers State as personal opinions.
In his reaction to the development, former president Jonathan said Tinubu’s action could bring Nigeria to disrepute.
While speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja, Jonathan expressed disappointment over the suspension of Fubara and Rivers House of Assembly members, while accusing the three arms of government in Rivers of abusing power, alleging that all of them contributed to the political crisis in the state.
Also commenting on the issue, Professor Soyinka maintained that President Tinubu’s declaration was against the spirit of federalism. The Nobel laureate called for a national discussion on the matter, noting that the 1999 constitution gives the president too much power.
Reacting to their comments, Ajayi said both Jonathan and Soyinka have offered their personal opinions on the matter like every other Nigerian. He stressed that Tinubu’s declaration and the suspension of elected officers in Rivers were part of his duties as president, adding that the president would not fail in his duty to protect the country.