ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for restraint in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.
The APC also warned that President Bola Tinubu 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 of Nigeria 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.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Declare State Of Emergency Now- APC To Tinubu
Reacting, the party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, stated that the matter is still within the purview of law enforcement agents and that the president cannot be dragged into isolated issues or functionalities of states.
“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,” Duru said.
Meanwhile, a faction of Rivers APC loyal to Rotimi Amaechi has dismissed the call for a state of emergency by the party’s caretaker committee, stating that it was not discussed or agreed upon by the party’s members.
“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”, the spokesperson for the faction, Darlington Nwauju said.
The crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing, with the Rivers APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, appealing to the Federal Government to take drastic steps, including declaring a state of emergency, citing a “full-blown war” in the state.
However, the APC has urged restraint and cautioned against dragging President Tinubu into the crisis.