The Rivers Peace Congress (RPC) has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating it prevented anarchy and restored peace, order, and unity to the politically troubled region.
In a statement issued on Friday, signed by RPC National President Comrade Randy Prince, the group described Tinubu’s intervention as bold and essential to safeguarding democracy, lives, and public assets amid governance breakdowns and personal power struggles. The decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appoint a Sole Administrator followed months of legislative defiance and escalating chaos, according to the RPC.
“President Tinubu’s action came when governance in Rivers was at risk,” the statement read. “The governor’s disregard for court orders and constitutional checks pushed the state to the brink. The state of emergency has restored calm, revived institutions, and brought relief to citizens.”
The RPC highlighted improvements in inter-agency cooperation, public service delivery, and conflict resolution, particularly in Port Harcourt and surrounding areas. “Rivers people now sleep peacefully, markets have reopened, civil servants are paid, and public projects have resumed,” the statement noted, crediting Tinubu for prioritizing the people over politics.
Addressing critics who call the move undemocratic, Prince emphasized that it was necessary to avert a constitutional crisis and preserve national unity. “The judiciary was under siege, the state assembly a battleground, and the governor isolated himself from the rule of law. Tinubu acted to defend peace,” he said.
The RPC commended the Sole Administrator for fostering unity and focusing on service delivery and institutional rebuilding. “He’s a bridge builder, restoring dignity and giving Rivers people hope,” Prince added.
The group urged international observers to consider the context of the crisis rather than relying on propaganda. “Those crying dictatorship weren’t here when lawmakers were locked out or government offices were under siege,” Prince said. “The emergency has allowed us to start afresh.”
The RPC called on Rivers elites, traditional rulers, and the business community to support the Sole Administrator and the federal government’s plan for political reconciliation and eventual democratic elections. “This is a time for healing, not division. Let us work with the Tinubu administration to sustain progress,” the statement concluded.
