Tinubu’s Interference In Rivers State Saved Us From Anarchy – Tony Okocha

The All Progressives Congress has come out to say that President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State has resolved 90 percent of the crisis in the state.

The Chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha recently revealed this at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the declaration was a necessary evil for the state, and the suspension of the state governor, Simi Fubara was essential for its progress.

He added that the move by Tinubu clearly saved Rivers State from anarchy, and he is very grateful.

His words, “I want to tell you that the State of Emergency declaration by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. Indeed, people like us could barely leave certain places where we were hiding, out of fear of the unknown. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that suggest anarchy and lawlessness, you know that a problem is looming.

For the immediate, it was necessary. The decision of Mr President was a necessary evil. Whether the impeachment or suspension as it were today, I can tell you that 90 percent of the political crisis in Rivers was solved. It was very necessary. It is like when you have a hernia, and the only solution is an operation. The hernia is painful and the operation is painful, but without the operation, you won’t have any peace.

Was he in the fray? The answer is no. If bringing him to the fray is because he is the leader of that political structure, then you may be right. The 32 assembly members were produced and sponsored by the former Governor of Rivers State, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike. The election was one day, assembly and governorship. Are you not aware of what happened? The same group also threw up the governor of the state. So if you want to get him into the fray, that is the only reason you can, or you should.

The other point we make is that, and I have said that here before, Fubara was the weakest political investment. I have said that many times. What happens to you when you have invested? Should you allow the investment to fly away or to explode? And in Politics, I am talking about even in Economics, in politics, it is heavy, if not impossible, for someone to allow you to dismantle his political structure. They are all members of the same party. We have APC; they are members of a party called PDP.

For those who are calling for his suspension and all that, they are not getting the point right. That man had been at the epicenter of peace. How do we resolve this matter? But the governor became so hydra-headed that his head became bigger than his pillow. He had some people who told him, You have the red pen; you know all and do all; you can make or unmake with your red pen.

I am sure some of you saw him in the program where he brought the red pen out and said, ‘This is the red pen; it is still with me. This is what they are after. I still have it. I don’t know whether the red pen has dried up now, or maybe it will dry up before six months.

What some people are now saying is that the suspension of the governor and assembly members is wrong. Thank God I hear the PDP Governors’ Forum is approaching the Supreme Court. I’m sure you know that there has been no legislation on this matter. Now that they have gone to the Supreme Court, whatever the outcome is will enrich the respondents.

I don’t want to single out individuals, but I hear the Nigerian Bar Association has come out to say it’s an affront to democracy and all that. When the assembly complex was destroyed and bombed, and the next day, 11 pieces of equipment were deployed, the NBA was aware, but we didn’t hear anything from them.

So one wonders why all this talk now. It’s good that they are going to court, and we should allow the Supreme Court to decide on the actions of Mr. President.”

WOW.