- Safiu Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lauded the National Assembly over their approval of the state of emergency in Rivers.
NPO Reported that the Senate and House of Representatives had yesterday approved the state of emergency as declared by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday over the unresolved political crisis and unrest in the state.
The upper and lower Chambers also approved the controversial suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers Assembly.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC hailed the lawmakers for the swift approval of the declaration.
The Assembly, according to the statement, demonstrated patriotism by putting the interest of peace and security of the people of Rivers state first.
While also commending the opposition cause within the National Assembly for setting aside their differences and approved state of emergency, the APC reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring peace, maintaining law and order, protecting critical national assets in Rivers state.
The ruling party, however, too a swipe at the opposition political leaders coalition who had prior the National Assembly’s plenary yesterday, urged the lawmakers to reject the declaration.
The coalition spearheaded by the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and ex-APC Chieftain, Nasir El-Rufai amongst others, had in a press conference condemned the state of emergency declaration by the President.
The APC urged Nigerians to ignore them, stressing that they had only intended to score their names on news headlines and drum up tension.
The statement read in part; “The All Progressives Congress (APC) commends the leadership and membership of the National Assembly for the swift approval of President Bola Tinubu’s
Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers state, as constitutionally stipulated.
“Today, the 10th Assembly demonstrated patriotism by putting the interest of peace and security of the people of Rivers state first, and uniting in the national interest.
“In this regard, we particularly applaud the opposition caucus for rising above partisanship in support of the proclamation.
“The President is committed to ensuring peace, maintaining law and order, protecting critical national assets in Rivers state, and ultimately, restoring constitutional order in which all three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary – co-exist and perform their constitutionally assigned functions for the well-being and good governance of Rivers state.
“We urge Nigerians to ignore roving opposition opportunists seeking to exploit the situation in Rivers state to escalate tension in the country.
“These opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi and former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai stood idly by, did nothing to help defuse the crisis that had become a clear and present threat to peace, safety of lives and national assets in Rivers state.
“Today, these self-serving individuals did what they do best – issued a lengthy, convoluted and utterly meaningless statement intended to score their names on news headlines and drum up tension.
“We urge the good people of Rivers state and all well-meaning Nigerians to support President Tinubu in his effort to secure peace, protect lives and property, and eventually restoring effective constitutional governance in the state.”