Rivers: Northern Reps Caucus Backs Tinubu, Faults Opposition

The Chairman and leader of the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ado Doguwa, has explained why the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State must stand.

The Kano-born lawmaker said the legislative House and the government cannot sit and allow miscreants, hoodlums and politically motivated thugs destroy critical assets at the expense of national economy.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, Doguwa alleged suspended Governor Sim Fubara and some other interests outside the State have knowledge of destructions of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector in the Niger Delta.

The lawmaker also took a swipe at the coalition of opposition party leaders for criticising the action.

He asked them to live above partisan lines and be wary of the fact that the laws of the land are unambiguously sacrosanct and can not be contemplated by anyone.

According to him: “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 C in C of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are apt, timely and constitutionally appropriate. We as a legislative institution will not allow Mr. Presidents constitutional declaration of emergency 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 however 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 continue to destroy critical national assets at the expense of our national economy.

“What is happening today by way of destructions of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector is allegedly with the conspiracy of the suspended Governor of the state and some politically motivated players outside Rivers state.

“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 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 FederalRepublicof Nigeria.”

Reacting to Atiku Abubakar-led Coalition of political leaders’ condemnation of the Emergency in Rivers State, Doguwa said: “The legislative institution of our country to we are collectively members, are 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.

“Nigeria is indeed greater than any selfish coalition and its conspiracies. The constitutional proclamation of emergency in Rvers state must stand.”

Source:- Thenationonlineng