The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, insisting that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions warranted federal intervention.
Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline on Tuesday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, accused Fubara of systematically undermining democratic institutions and governance in the oil-rich state.
“Everyone criticizing this decision is speaking from a place of political bias,” Morka said. “Governor Fubara was slapping democracy in the face with his actions. Shortly after assuming office, he attempted to unseat the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an elected official like himself. When that failed, he resorted to pulling down the Assembly complex, thereby crippling legislative activities in the state. Yet, none of these opposition figures—Peter Obi included—raised their voices then.”
Morka further alleged that Fubara froze the state’s financial channels to suppress opposition, creating a governance crisis that the federal government could no longer ignore.
Defending Tinubu’s decision, Morka pointed to Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the president to declare a state of emergency in cases of severe governance threats.
According to him, intelligence reports indicated rising security concerns, including threats to critical oil infrastructure. The recent vandalism of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), one of Nigeria’s largest crude oil transport systems, posed a direct threat to the nation’s economy.
“This wasn’t a unilateral decision,” he emphasized. “It was later ratified by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, reflecting a broad consensus across party lines on the necessity of this intervention.”
One of the most contentious aspects of the emergency rule is Fubara’s suspension, which critics argue bypasses constitutional impeachment processes. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and opposition leaders have described it as executive overreach.
However, Morka dismissed these concerns, clarifying that Tinubu did not remove the governor but merely suspended him as an extraordinary measure to restore order.
He cited Section 5(3) of the Constitution, which states that a governor’s powers must not be exercised in a way that undermines the federal government’s authority.
“Fubara’s actions were in direct violation of this provision,” Morka said. “He disregarded the legislative arm, sidelined governance structures, and allowed chaos to fester. The president had to act to protect democracy.”
The state of emergency has sparked outrage among opposition figures, particularly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi have condemned the move, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent for democracy.
The PDP has hinted at legal action to challenge the emergency rule in court, but Morka dismissed this as politically motivated.
“The same PDP leaders criticizing the intervention ignored the crisis for months,” he said. “Where was their concern when the Rivers Assembly was demolished? Where were their voices when governance was paralyzed?”
Beyond the political fallout, concerns have been raised about the economic impact of the Rivers crisis, given its strategic importance as a major oil-producing state.
Morka accused Fubara of negligence in handling security threats to critical oil installations. He referenced an explosion that threatened oil infrastructure, alleging that the governor neither addressed the issue publicly nor took decisive action to mitigate risks.
“The president could not stand by while key economic assets were under threat,” Morka stated. “Allowing Rivers State to spiral further into instability would have jeopardized Nigeria’s economic recovery.”
Despite concerns that the emergency rule could be prolonged, Morka assured that Tinubu has no intention of extending it beyond necessity.
“As soon as law and order are restored, and governance stabilizes, the emergency rule will end,” he said. “The people of Rivers State deserve peace, security, and effective leadership, not endless political strife.”
Addressing broader governance issues, Morka defended the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, claiming significant progress in stabilizing Nigeria’s economy.
“Nigeria’s GDP is growing at over 3.6%, a sign of economic recovery,” he noted. “For over five consecutive quarters, we’ve recorded a balance of payment surplus, meaning we’re exporting more than we import.”
He also highlighted improvements in the exchange rate, stating that the naira now trades between ₦1,500 and ₦1,600 per dollar. Increased foreign investment and remittances, he added, were further indicators of economic stability.
“Food inflation is declining because productivity is increasing,” Morka asserted. “These are clear signs that Nigeria is on the path to sustainable growth.”
