Former President Goodluck Jonathan has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of elected officials in Rivers State.

Jonathan claimed that the move could harm the country’s image.

The former President revealed this on Saturday while appearing as Chairman of the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja.

Jonathan expressed disappointment that elected officials had been ousted.

“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” said Mr. Jonathan.

The statement comes just days after Tinubu announced the state of emergency in the oil-rich state.

Tinubu has suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

Despite strong criticism from many Nigerians, the House of Representatives accepted Tinubu’s proclamation of an emergency in the state.

Shortly afterwards, the Senate supported Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

However, while discussing the political turmoil in Rivers, Jonathan stated that, while it is not customary for former presidents to comment on political issues in order to avoid inflaming the situation, he insisted that the image of a country and the amount of investment it attracts are heavily influenced by the actions of the country’s executive, legislature, and judiciary.

According to him, his statement was prompted by repeated requests from many Nigerians to speak out on the events in Rivers State as a notable Niger Delta son.

He criticised the system in which one individual may tell the judiciary what to do, saying it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.