Group faults APC over call for emergency rule in Rivers

The Concerned Citizens Forum of Nigeria (CCFN), a civil society organisation, has faulted the call for emergency rule in Rivers by Rivers chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Promise Ekeanyanwu, the Executive Director of the group, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that APC, Rivers chapter, on Wednesday called for state of emergency in the state as the political tension there escalated.

The caretaker committee chairman of the party, Mr Tony Okocha, told newsmen that “APC Rivers state is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers state so that I and you can have peace in this state’’.

Ekeanyanwu said that declaring a state of emergency would undermine democratic governance.

He also said the call for a state of emergency, if heeded to, would exacerbate the existing instability in the state.

According to him, implementing such a measure would erode the trust of the populace in the democratic process.

He said it would further disenfranchise the people of the state and potentially exacerbate the existing tensions.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into to determine if APC was involved in the crisis in Rivers and if found culpable hold it accountable for any wrongdoing.

The CCFN executive director stressed that the security situation in the state should be a concern that required attention.

He urged the relevant authorities to adopt proactive measures that would address the root causes of the issue.

“Declaring a state of emergency is not a viable solution, as it will only lead to further violence, displacement and human rights violations’’, he said.