State Of Emergency Was About Plundering Rivers’ Common Patrimony — APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has said that the authorities of exigency declared connected Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu connected March 18, 2025, was each astir plundering the communal patrimony of the radical of the State.

Tinubu had upon the declaration of exigency regularisation successful the state, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and appointed a erstwhile Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), arsenic the sole head of the authorities for archetypal six months.

Fubara, Odu and members of the House of Assembly, are expected to resume bureau connected September 18, 2025, which marks the expiration of the six-month authorities of emergency.

Speaking with journalists successful Port Harcourt connected Monday, Eze said the authorities of exigency was declared connected the authorities to allegedly let Lagos State to proceed to firm-up the grip connected the immense lipid revenue.

Eze said: “Imagine a concern wherever the multinationals that harness the lipid successful the Niger Delta are headquartered successful Lagos. All the benefits from the lipid exploration via tax, employment, etc., spell to Lagos portion the Niger Deltans endure the exploitation.

“So, successful bid to firm-up the grip of Lagos connected the immense lipid revenue, determination has to beryllium perpetual destabilisation of the Niger Delta region, particularly, Rivers State. This is truthful due to the fact that they bash not privation Rivers State system to vie with Lagos.

“While helium served arsenic governor, Amaechi gave Lagos a superior chase, and Rivers was astir astatine par with Lagos successful each spheres. Governor Fubara’s committedness to revive concern successful infrastructure and physique an enabling situation for businesses threatened Tinubu and Lagos.

“That is wherefore the President didn’t deliberation twice; didn’t look astatine the laws of the country; didn’t see the dangers, the criticisms that whitethorn travel with the unlawful suspension of the governor. Fubara’s show was a threat.”