The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has made a significant appeal to the Federal Government, emphasizing the urgent need to declare a state of emergency within the state. This request stems from the increasing levels of violence and instability that have plagued the region, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among its residents.
The plea was prominently articulated by Chief Tony Okocha, who currently serves as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers State. Addressing the press during a media briefing held in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Chief Okocha expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation. He highlighted numerous incidents of violence that have disrupted the peace and safety of the local communities.
“The alarming rate of violence in Rivers State is unprecedented,” Chief Okocha stated, pointing to specific instances of unrest that have caused significant distress among the populace. He argued that the declaration of a state of emergency is a necessary step to restore law and order, ensuring that residents can live without fear of violence and instability. “The Federal Government must take immediate action to address this dire situation,” he urged, emphasizing the critical need for intervention to prevent further escalation of violence and to safeguard the wellbeing of the people in Rivers State.“Rivers State is at war,” Okocha stated. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known. “The Governor is helpless, the police is helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that is going on in the state.”
