The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State is calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a “State of Emergency” in Rivers State, as a result of the current spate of lawlessness across Rivers State, occasioned by the broadcast made by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State on Monday, 17th June, 2024, in which he directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the State to take over the affairs of the councils, and await “further directives.”
Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha, DSSRS, JP, the Leader/Chairman of the APC in Rivers State made the call earlier today in a press briefing at the Rivers State Secretariat of the APC in Port Harcourt, on “The State of Affairs in Rivers State”, following the violence that erupted in several local government areas in the State after the broadcast of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the supporters of the Governor.
Speaking to newsmen during the press briefing, the Rivers APC Leader/Chairman said, “l want to use this opportunity to absolve the members of the APC in Rivers State.”
“We are not part of the ongoing war in Rivers State. I also want to absolve the innocent citizens of Rivers State, who are going about their legitimate businesses to put food on the table.”
“They are not part of the war. The war is between Governor Siminalayi Fubara versus Governor Siminalayi Fubara. That is the war in Rivers State. The Governor is unteachable. He doesn’t take wise counsel”, he added.
“The Chief of Staff to the Governor is the one leading armed thugs – Non State Actors – who are brandishing guns to various local government areas, and causing mayhem.”
“The Federal High Court, and the State High Court am told cannot sit. Young men are brandishing all manner of guns everywhere like it is their right now, and they’re doing it at liberty.”
“The boys have been let loose on the innocent citizens of Rivers State, and the people living and doing business in the State. The Police is helpless, and the Governor himself is also helpless.”
“In Omuma local government area, a Police officer was shot dead. A Vigilante Member was also shot dead. Was that necessary”?
“A boy in Ahoada was also shot dead. He was a former Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, here in Port Harcourt. That boy died yesterday. He was carrying and waving “Asawana flag”, and was saying Asawana is not a love song. He is gone. These are the ones that are reported.”
Speaking further, Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha said, “We are in a trouble in Rivers State. We are in a state of war, and it is because the Governor is unteachable and doesn’t listen to wise counsel, even the counsel of Mr President .”
“The APC in Rivers State, the APC that I represent today is asking and demanding for a State of Emergency in Rivers State, so that Rivers people will live in peace because it will be too late to cry when the head is off.”
“The reasons and the indices of war, full blown war are palpable and clear. The Federal Government of Nigeria should do what they should do so that the situation does not degenerate into a situation that we will be seeing fire everywhere. This is our position as a party in the State.”
On the submission by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, who was the immediate past Minister of Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that 84% of Nigerians doesn’t like the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha said, “We distance ourselves from that personal expression of his idiosyncrasies. It is not our position as the APC in Rivers State, it is his own position.”
“We support, whole and entire, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we have passed a vote of confidence on him, consistent with what was done by the South-South leadership of the APC in a meeting that held in Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital on Sunday, the 16th day of June, 2024,” Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha said.
Amb. Vincent Gbosi,
Special Assistant on Media to the Chairman,
Caretaker Committee (CTC),
All Progressives Congress (APC),
Rivers State.
June 19, 2024.
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