Rivers State: Northern Reps Back State Of Emergency, say Tinubu’s Action In Order

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Northern Regional Caucus of the House of Representatives has endorsed the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as apt and in the best interest of the nation.

The caucus which comprises members of the house from 19 Northern States and FCT, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday that President Tinubu’s declaration of state of of emergency in the South-South state is in order.

The Chairman of the Caucus,Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who issued the statement, urged all Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s decision.

“In view of the ongoing discourse on the State of Emergency in Rivers State, We are compelled to state clearly that the steps taken by Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are apt, timely, and constitutionally appropriate.

“As a legislative institution, we will not allow Mr President’s constitutional emergency declaration to fail. The opposition are simply trying to be political about this matter.

“While we are not insensitive to the constitutional imperatives and implications involved, we will not ignore or take for granted the derailment of law and order in Rivers State.

“We cannot also as a legislative house or as a government, sit down and allow miscreants, hoodlums, and politically motivated thugs to continue to destroy critical national assets at the expense of our national economy,” Doguwa said.

While stressing the need for restoring law and order in Rivers State, the caucus noted that ” Nigeria is indeed greater than any selfish coalition and its conspiracies. The constitutional proclamation in Rivers State must stand.”

According to the caucus, the destruction of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector is alleged to be the conspiracy of the agent of darkness and provocateurs.

“In the circumstances, therefore, I would like to, on behalf of the Northern Regional Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives, state that we are in total support of the state of emergency declared by Mr President in the discharge of his constitutional powers as clearly stated in section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The so-called coalition of opposition party leaders must live above partisan lines and be wary that the laws of the land are unambiguously sacrosanct and cannot be contemplated by anyone.

“At the parliament, we are collectively, in this case, guided by our moral conscience, commitments to protecting democratic ideals, respect for our supreme legal document and, of course, by historical precedence,” the lawmaker added.