A faction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, reportedly aligned with former Minister for Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has opposed the call for a state of emergency in the state.
Earlier reports from Naija News indicated that the opposition party in Rivers State had urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency due to the ongoing political turmoil since the inauguration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
During a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Chief Tony Okocha, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers, declared, “Rivers State is at war. The individuals responsible for the chaos that has resulted in loss of lives are known.”
Contrarily, another faction of the APC has rejected this call for a state of emergency. The spokesperson for this faction, Darlington Nwauju, labeled the members led by Tony Okocha as fraudulent.
Nwauju stated, “I wish to inform the people of Rivers State that the APC did not convene any meeting or consultations among its members or leaders to decide that demanding a state of emergency is the best strategy to address the brewing political crisis.”
He further clarified, “There were no such consultations or meetings, and therefore, it cannot be considered the collective opinion of APC members across the 390 wards in Rivers State. I want to dispel this rumor and dismiss it as unnecessary, illogical, and unpatriotic. Rivers State must find other means to resolve these political issues.”
Nwauju cautioned Okocha to remember the critical role Rivers State plays in Nigeria’s economy, emphasizing the need for caution when offering advice on managing challenges.
The APC spokesperson expressed hope for the restoration of peace throughout Rivers State, stating, “Our hope is that the Almighty will bring peace that transcends understanding to Rivers State.”
Nwauju also offered a prayer for the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be blessed.
