The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded the National Assembly for the swift approval of President Bola Tinubu’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State as constitutionally stipulated.
The party carpeted the Atiku Abubakar-led leaders and political stakeholders for condemning the presidential declaration, accusing them of seeking to exploit the situation in Rivers State to escalate tension in the country.
A statement in Abuja on Thursday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka praised the lawmakers for demonstrating high sense of patriotism by expeditiously approving the presidential declaration.
The statement reads: “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.”
Morka emphasised that 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.
Reacting to Abubakar-led opposition leaders’ condemnation of President Tinubu’s action, describing it unconstitutional, the APC spokesman advised Nigerians to ignore them, stressing that they had failed to do anything in the past to defuse the crisis.
Morka said: “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.”
