Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and Wike’s ally, Hon Chibudom Nwuche, has said the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a step in the right direction.
Nwuche in an interview in Port Harcourt said the President saved Rivers from looming anarchy and bloodshed.
The Orashi born politician called on the National Assembly to ratify the President’s declaration in the interest of peace, progress, development and good governance of Rivers and the country.
According to him, the protracted crisis, which spanned over one year had adversely affected governance and economic prosperity of Rivers state.
He said investors were leaving the state in droves because of the crisis adding that the state was near comatose with confusion and uncertainties defining the daily activities of government.
Nwuche said by the declaration and the appointment of a Sole Administrator, the President had demonstrated that he is a proactive leader who will not sit idly and watch any part of the country burn.
He said the situation became most worrisome following the attacks on major oil installations by criminals describing the development as unacceptable,after certain groups had issued such threats.
He advised the political actors in the crisis to use the opportunity created by the emergency rule to peacefully resolve their differences and deescalate the tension in the state,while abiding by the rule of law.
He also called on those he referred to as “interlopers, political jobbers” from outside the state to stop fueling the crisis for personal gain in order to restore order to Rivers State.
Nwuche who congratulated the newly appointed Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd) urged him to work for the peace and progress of Rivers, even as he
called on the residents to remain calm and go about their daily activities assuring them that the President acted in their best interest.
He said: “I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for taking this proactive step of bringing peace by declaring emergency rule in Rivers State in line with S305 of the Constitution.
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“The President acted to save Rivers State from descending into anarchy. The state was already on the brink of lawlessness and anarchy on account of the protracted political disagreement that had lasted for over one year.
“Most non residents of Rivers State do not understand that the crisis was dealing a heavy blow on the state. The state had suffered greatly and the economy was near comatose because investors were already withdrawing from the state. But we thank God the President courageously came to the rescue. From my experience Democracies must be adapted to local needs,and not copied hook,line and sinker from other countries “.
“I urge the National Assembly to expeditiously confirm the emergency rule to enable good governance return to Rivers State. I also urge the political actors to use this opportunity to settle their differences in line with the rule of law,and deescalate the tension in the interest of Rivers State.
“A situation where criminals resorted to blowing up pipelines is not acceptable. Self-help has no place in a democracy. Rivers people have always lived in harmony and it took the collective efforts of all the people of the state to elect the governor and members of the House of Assembly.There was no room for the ethnic sentiments currently being championed by outsiders. My tribe the Ekpeye, other tribes like the Ikwerres,Ogonis,Kalabari, Igbani,Etche etc all voted in one accord for the Governor and the members of the House of Assembly.
“I am calling on all residents of the state to remain calm, go about their normal activities and cooperate with the sole Administrator in the interest of peace and development of the state”.
