Rivers Emergency Rule: APC Commends NASS, Lambasts Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai

By Akombo Aondona, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday 20 March 2025, commendex the National Assembly for its approval of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State following intense political crisis in the state.

In a statement in Abuja by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party reaffirmed President Tinubu’s committment to ensuring peace, maintaining law and order, as well as protecting critical National assets in Rivers State.

Morka wrote: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) commends the leadership and membership of the National Assembly for the swift approval of President Bola Tinubu’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers state, as constitutionally stipulated. 

“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. 

“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.

“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.”