By Abiola Olawale
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on to the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the state.
The Rivers APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, raised alarm on the political crisis bedevilling the state, calling on the Federal Government to immediately intervene and call Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to order.
According to Okocha, the recent protests erupting in several parts of the state over the tenure expiration of the 23 local government chairmen are capable of plunging the state into a war if not handled by people.
He emphasized the need for swift intervention to prevent further escalation of tension in the state.
Okocha who addressed a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday said: “Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.
“The governor is helpless, the police bias helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, and the upsurge that is going on in the state.
“I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”
The New Diplomat reports that Rivers State has been experiencing a period of political turmoil following a fallout between Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The duo have been involved in heated exchanges but the situation has been calm for a while.
The latest crisis emerged after the pro-Wike faction of Rivers State House of Assembly extended the tenure of the local government chairmen by six months.
The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly had amended the law to enable LG chairmen to extend their tenure by six months over the alleged failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had granted an order voiding the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which seeks tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state.
The court in its ruling declared that Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by six months, is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councillors.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Fubara directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to immediately assume control of the 23 council areas in the state following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected local government officials.
Subsequently, Fubara swore in the new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The inauguration came after the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo screened and confirmed the nominees.
