Rivers State APC Chairman says Emergency Declaration Saved Anarchy

Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter, Tony Okocha has said state of emergency, declared in the State, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saved anarchy, lives and property, saying it was a necessary evil.

He also, congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the declaration of the emergency rule and suspension of Governor Siminilaye Fubara, his Deputy and House of Assembly members, stating that there was no Government in the State before the pronouncement, as the other two arms of Government, the Legislature and Judiciary were not there, to check the Executive.

Okocha made this disclosure, while speaking with journalists at the Party National Secretariat, Buhari House, Abuja on Thursday, saying it must be noted however, that the suspended Governor, Fubara was a political investment of former Governor Nyesom Wike and no one would watch his investment go down the drain.

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He stated that Rivers today, is a safe city, free of guns and pipe line vandalisation with all, going about without bullet proof cars and body guards, indicating that he came to brief the Party National Working Committee, NWC, led by Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on recent development in the State.

He said: “Well, I can tell you categorically, I am not a prophet but for the immediate, it was a necessary evil. The decision of Mr. President was a necessary evil. If you read our publication, we say that it’s a painful acceptance. It was painful, but we needed to accept it as a necessary evil.

“So, Mr President’s decision was a necessary evil, and whether the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara or his suspension, as it were today, will be the only thing that will bring peace in Rivers State, I can tell you that the the more I know, 90%, 99% of the political imbroglio in the State is solved.”

The Rivers State political crisis has drawn National attention, with the former Governor and current FCT Minister, Wike, actively working behind the scenes to broker peace with suspended Governor Fubara.

Okocha emphasised that contrary to speculations, Wike was not fueling the crisis but, trying to stabilise the situation.

He criticised Fubara for sidelining 27 lawmakers and working with only three, withholding funds from the State Assembly, and demolishing the Assembly complex under the pretext of renovation, saying; “these actions are threat to democracy and lawlessness.”

He further stressed: “I have told you before, and let me also repeat it, the President did not just declare a state of emergency. You are aware that time came when Mr President invited stakeholders from River State to the State House. In that meeting, we were over one hundred and fifty, 150. I was in attendance, and the President took his time, for 20, to 30 minutes to advise us and sue for peace.

“The Governor had the opportunity, because the President gave him time to speak on the matter. You are aware that an eight-point decision was reached from that meeting.

“Maybe, what you do not know is that at every paragraph that was read, not by Mr President himself, but by our father, former Governor of River State, Peter Odili at every paragraph he read, the President would interject and ask, is that what you agreed, all of us would agree, yes.

“That is why I worry, because somebody who was in that meeting went back home, just in their bid to feast on the Governor’s pockets, to say that the Governor was under duress. There was no pressure anywhere. We had the best of serene environment.

“The only reason why our friend, the suspended Governor fought was because there were some elders who said, look, you have signed your death warrant. Why did you go to sign that? From there, they went to Court against Mr President, saying he had no right, that the decision reached, couldn’t have been constitutional, that they are political.

“I am here to actually, brief the National Working Committee, NWC, led by the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the development in the State. I thought I owed them that responsibility and to also seize the opportunity to thank the Party at the National level for coming heavily, to support our position in the State,” he added.