Rivers emergency rule has 2027 political undertone — PDP
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State has a 2027 political undertone. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and […]
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State has a 2027 political undertone.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months following the protracted political crisis in the state.
The president also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, as the state’s administrator to oversee governance.
Daily Trust reports that Rivers has been enmeshed in crisis following a feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, who is the current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the control of politics and governance in the state.
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But addressing a press conference yesterday after an emergency NWC meeting in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused President Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of trying to destabilise Rivers and the South South ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ologunagba, flanked by other members of the NWC said, “What President Tinubu is attempting to do is to suspend the 1999 Constitution, overturn a democratic government and foist an undemocratic regime in Nigeria in gross violation of Sections 1 (2), 14(2)(a), 180, 217(2)(b) (c) and 305 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“Governor Fubara under the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) remains the elected governor of Rivers State. The PDP urges the military and other agencies to be on the side of the law and restrict themselves to their constitutional role of defending democratic rule and the Constitution.”
But reacting, the ruling All Progressives Congresses (APC) said the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is the architect of his current political ordeal.
The APC in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, yesterday said, “When he ‘governed’ the state without a legislature, Fubara ended government in the state. When he expended state funds without valid legislative appropriation, Fubara stripped himself of all constitutional protections of the office of governor.”
The party said, “Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the author of the extreme events that have unfolded in Rivers State. When he brazenly demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara destroyed the very foundation of democracy in the state.”
The ruling party stressed that the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu in the state was “a necessary, constitutionally-backed measure” to protect lives and property, and extend governance to the people of the state.
“The safety and well-being of the people is paramount at this time, and must trump all political considerations. Again, President Tinubu has demonstrated courage and leadership in forestalling a looming breakdown of law and order in the state.
“As the Supreme Court confirmed, there was no government in the state and there had not been a government since Fubara destroyed the state legislature. By his reckless actions, Fubara asked for and set the stage for this outcome,” the APC added.