Amidst widespread criticism and opposition trailing President Bola Tinubu’s decision declaring a state of Emergency in Rivers State, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr Felix Morka today called the decision the best, accusing Suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara of tramping on democracy.

After 15 months of pollical unrest in the Oil-rich south-south state, President Tinubu last Tuesday, 18TH March, 2025, in a nationwide broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers state.

The President also invoked the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, while also suspending Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

While several quarters have berated the President constitutional rights to do so, Morka in an exclusive interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Current Affairs Program, Frontline, on Tuesday, lambasted the oppositions such as 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi amongst others who stood and watch the governor’s action before the President’s intervention.

“Everyone commenting have been speaking from a place of political biases, they’re not been objective. If they’ve been objective, I bet that I would’ve been invited to discussed the protracted actions of Governor Fubara in desecrating democracy. He was slapping democracy in the face by his actions.

“Shortly after he was elected into office, he moved to replace the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly that was also elected like him. When his attempt to remove the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, failed, this governor pulled down the Assembly complex, effectively stalling legislative activities in the state yet none of these mentioned opposition gave high sounding speeches or commentaries. Peter Obi did not say a word while Fubara sort to abolish the state legislature, He preceded to freeze every flow of money.”

Defending the state of emergency, Morka emphasized that President Tinubu acted within the framework of Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers the president to declare a state of emergency in cases of severe threats to national security or governance.

Intelligence reports, according to him, indicated escalating security risks, including threats to critical oil infrastructure in Rivers State after the biggest pipeline in Nigeria, Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) was reportedly vandalized.

Moka further pointed out that the declaration was not a unilateral decision but was later ratified by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. Given the multi-partisan nature of the Assembly, he argued that this approval reflected a broad consensus across political lines regarding the necessity of the emergency rule.

“The National Assembly is a multi-partisan assembly, not just the APC, PDP or Labour Party assembly, it is the assembly of all the parties that have members representing them in that assembly. Together, they, having considered all of the information available to them, made an approval of the declaration by the president on the state of emergency in Rivers state.”

One of the most controversial aspects of the declaration is the suspension of Governor Fubara. Critics, including members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have argued that Section 188 of the Constitution outlines a clear process for removing a governor, which was not followed in this case.

However, Morka contended that the president did not remove the governor but merely suspended him as an extraordinary measure to stabilize the state.

He cited Section 5, Subsection 3 of the Constitution, which states that a governor must not exercise executive authority in a way that undermines the federal government.

Section 5, 3 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria outlines that the executive powers vested in a State must be exercised in a way that doesn’t impede the Federation’s powers, endanger federal assets, or jeopardize the Federal Government’s continued existence.

According to Morka, Fubara’s actions contravened this provision, justifying presidential intervention.

The state of emergency has sparked fierce reactions from the opposition, particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Prominent PDP leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have condemned the intervention, arguing that it represents executive overreach and a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria.

Moka, however, dismissed these criticisms, questioning why PDP governors and leaders failed to address the crisis before it escalated. He accused them of ignoring the governor’s actions for months, only to challenge the intervention when the federal government stepped in.

The PDP has hinted at legal action to challenge the emergency declaration in court. However, Moka believes this move is politically motivated, arguing that Fubara’s recent outreach to the state legislature is insincere, given that he ignored them for over a year.

Beyond the political turmoil, the Rivers State crisis has raised concerns about its impact on Nigeria’s economy. The state is a major hub for oil production, and any instability could have serious repercussions for national revenue.

Moka criticized Governor Fubara’s response to security incidents in the state, particularly his alleged inaction following an explosion that threatened critical oil assets. He claimed that the governor failed to issue a public statement or deploy security forces, raising suspicions of complicity.

“The president could not remain a passive observer while critical assets were being destroyed,” Moka said. “Allowing chaos in Rivers State to fester would be detrimental to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

Despite the controversy, Moka reiterated that President Tinubu has no intention of prolonging emergency rule in Rivers State. He outlined the government’s primary objectives; Restoring law and order in the state. Preventing threats to national security and key infrastructure. Encouraging negotiations among stakeholders, including the governor and state assembly, to reach a sustainable resolution.

“As soon as these conditions are met, there will be no reason for the emergency rule to continue,” Moka assured. The people of Rivers State deserve peace and security, and it is the responsibility of their leaders to prioritize their well-being over partisan interests.”

Amid the political turmoil, the Tinubu administration has faced scrutiny over its economic policies. However, Moka maintained that the government has made significant progress in stabilizing the economy.

“Nigeria’s GDP is growing at over 3.6%, a sign of economic recovery,” he noted. “For more than five consecutive quarters, we have experienced a balance of payment surplus, meaning we are exporting more than we are importing. This is a major shift from our history as a largely consuming nation.” He stated.

He also highlighted the stabilization of the exchange rate, with the naira trading between 1,500 and 1,600 per dollar. Additionally, foreign investment inflows and remittances have increased, contributing to economic stability.

“Food inflation is declining because productivity is increasing, and prices are stabilizing,” Moka added. “These are clear indicators that Nigeria is on the path to sustainable growth.”