Report by Bello Wakili; Editing by Basirat Memudu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the National Assembly for what he described as a decisive and patriotic endorsement of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State.
The commendation was contained in a statement signed on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the President said the lawmakers’ action is a critical step towards restoring stability in Rivers State after a prolonged political crisis that crippled governance in the state and posed a threat to national economic security for over 15 months.
President Tinubu specifically praised the leadership of the National Assembly, including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and other principal officers and members, for placing the security and welfare of the people of Rivers State above partisan interests.
He also acknowledged the lawmakers for thoroughly reviewing classified security briefings, which highlighted the urgent need for intervention to avert further escalation of the crisis.
Referring to his address to the nation on March 18, President Tinubu noted that the near-total collapse of governance in Rivers State, along with threats to federal economic assets and the risk of widespread violence, left no room for delay.
He explained that the six-month emergency will empower the newly-appointed Sole Administrator to stabilise the state, address systemic failures, and encourage dialogue among all parties involved in the conflict.
President Tinubu further reiterated his administration’s resolve to strengthen collaboration with the National Assembly to promote peace, economic resilience, and equitable development across the country.
The President also appreciated Nigerians for their understanding and appealed to all stakeholders to support efforts to restore peace in Rivers State.
