Given the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress has renewed its call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the region.
The party’s plea underscores the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for federal intervention to restore stability.
The APC’s request includes the deployment of armed soldiers to key locations throughout Rivers State to prevent further deterioration of law and order. This recommendation highlights the party’s concern about escalating violence and disorder.
During a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Chief Tony Okocha, the caretaker chairman of the party, addressed the media. He described the current conditions in Rivers State, pointing to clear signs of lawlessness driven by non-state actors. “If this scenario is not assuaged now, it will be too late,” Okocha warned, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Furthermore, Okocha clarified that the contentious Law No 2 of 2024 was not designed to extend the tenure of the outgoing chairmen but was intended for future considerations.
This intervention comes after a series of violent clashes between political factions in the state.
The crisis reached a boiling point when a policeman and a local vigilante member were killed in a confrontation at the Omuma local government area secretariat.
In light of these events, the police have deployed conventional and anti-riot officers to secure the secretariats and other critical government infrastructure. “To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities,” a statement by the police read.
Details later…
