Why Tinubu can’t be dragged into Rivers crisis — APC

The ruling All Progressives Congress has urged for restraint over the crisis rocking Rivers State, warning that President Bola Tinubu, who is currently in South Africa, should not be pressured into declaring a state of emergency in the state.

The warning comes in the wake of an appeal by the Rivers APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, on Wednesday for the Federal Government to take a drastic step, including the declaration of a state of emergency, saying there is a full-blown war in the state.

Okocha hinged his call on claims that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was helpless and the police authority has proven to be biased over the tenure elongation quest by former local government chairpersons.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, explained that there was no justifiable reason to drag the president into the ongoing drama.

According to him, the matter is still within the purview of the law enforcement agents.

He said, “This is my personal view. This is something that lies within the purview of the law enforcement agents and Mr President cannot be dragged into matters such as this. Truly, we are in a democracy. What underpins democracy essentially is the rule of law, procedure, and obedience to the relevant orders of the court.

“So, Mr. President cannot be dragged into isolated issues or issues that have to do with the functionalities of states such as this. That is my view.”

Meanwhile, a faction of Rivers APC loyal to the former Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has also dismissed the call for the declaration of state emergency by the party’s caretaker committee as a result of the crisis.

The spokesperson of the faction, Darlington Nwauju, disclosed in a statement that the call for state emergency by members of Tony Okocha led members was not discussed.

He said, “I wish to quickly inform the people of the state that Rivers APC did not at any point in time hold any meeting amongst its members; or hold consultations amongst its leaders to decide that at this point in time, the best strategy or formula to nip in the bud the brewing political crisis is to demand for a state of emergency.

“There were no such consultations; there were no such meetings, and so it cannot stand as the aggregate opinion of members of the APC across the 390 wards in Rivers State.

“So, I want to quickly dispel such the rumour, and dismiss it as unnecessary, illogical, and unpatriotic. Rivers State must have other means to settle these political issues”.