‘State Of Emergency In Rivers Extra-constitutional, Expedient’

A former minister of state for transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has described President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State as not only extra-constitutional but expedient.

Adegoroye, who said that no responsible President would stand idly-by and watch the then situation in Rivers State deteriorate and degenerate, noted that President Tinubu’s action has protected life and property, “restored law and order and it has preserved the nation’s economic infrastructure.”

Speaking with journalists in Akure, Ondo State on Saturday, the immediate past transportation minister disclosed that only strong, courageous presidents and leaders all over the world take firm measures no matter how unpleasant.

“Who would say to me that had Governor Fubara and the Wike-supported House of Assembly still in place, we would still be experiencing the peace we presently enjoy in Rivers?

“This is not to say Asiwaju should become a dictator but I say that in the instant case, he acted like a statesman.

“As a legal practitioner of over 30 years, and having been fathered by one of the first generation of legal practitioners Nigeria produced, the late Prince Deji Adegoroye and being a politician myself, I know that it is not out of place for us to read political meanings to Mr President’s actions but time will tell whether it was a decision taken selfishly or that taken in good conscience for the overall good of Rivers State and the country in general,” he said.

He, however, called on President Tinubu to further act like “that statesman he is proving to be to once again intervene with a second meeting which would take balanced, far-reaching decisions in the interest of all and ensure the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers at the end of the six-month emergency rule.”

“Wike and his junior brother, Fubara and indeed all the actors in Rivers would have taken these six months to cool off, be sober and reflect and see whether all they’ve done since this crisis started has been in their own self-interest or in the interest of Rivers State and its good people.

“Nigerians must not quickly forget that the arms and ammunition in the possession of South South warlords and militants are such that would frighten any nation where possession of arms is illegal.

“We must also not forget that Mr President on an hourly basis has access to security information which, perhaps, no one else has, another factor which must have made him act promptly and decisively in the circumstances,” he stated.