Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker committee in Rivers State, has characterized the ongoing political turmoil in the state as unnecessary, cautioning that it has the potential to lead to a volatile situation. Despite expressing that the crisis is avoidable, Okocha emphasized concerns over the fragile state of affairs in Rivers.
Okocha attributed the looming crisis to Governor Similaye Fubara’s decision to overlook key agreements made with President Bola Tinubu. He warned that if the governor continues to disregard these agreements, the state could be on the brink of turmoil. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Okocha underscored the urgency of addressing the situation, especially as the Rivers State House of Assembly members seem to be challenging the governor’s decisions.
“The political crisis in the state is unnecessary. After the burning of our iconic State Assembly Complex, he went to present a budget to four lawmakers who passed it at a speed faster than the speed of light. A budget on which the state will be run for the next one year was passed in one day,” Okocha remarked, highlighting irregularities in the legislative process.
Okocha expressed concern over the hasty passage of the budget, emphasizing that standard legislative procedures were ignored. He urged Governor Fubara to adhere to the agreements reached with President Tinubu, asserting that the governor’s actions have exacerbated the challenges in Rivers State.
“The governor orchestrated this problem after which he called on the president to intervene. I was at the meeting with the president and other stakeholders where the governor signed the proclamation document. He assaulted democracy,” Okocha stated, accusing the governor of undermining democratic principles.
Okocha, in his capacity as the APC Chairman in Rivers State, asserted his right and duty to voice concerns on behalf of the people. He commended the People’s Democratic Party Governors Forum for their critical stance on the APC government, highlighting the essence of democracy as a platform for constructive criticism.
“The governor has compounded the problem in Rivers State. Our people are crying but do they have the platform that we have? No, we have to speak for them,” Okocha emphasized, urging the governor to reconsider his approach and adhere to the agreed-upon terms for the benefit of the state and the nation at large.
