The Leaders of Simplified Movement in ward 12, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers state have condemned the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as unjustifiably foisted on the law-abiding citizens of Rivers State by Mr. President.
This was the position of the leaders of Simplified Movement in Ward 12, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers state, in a press conference on April 23rd, 2025, in Port Harcourt.
The ward 12 simplified movement in Ahoada East Local Government Area, also posited that Foremost Regulatory Legal Body, the Nigerian Bar Association, with its array of distinguished legal luminaries has condemned in very strong and unambiguous terms, the sad development and undeserved set- back visited on the Rivers people.
Briefing journalists, an Elder in Ward 12, Ahoada East Local Government simplified movement, High Chief O. J. Akiri, opined that, ” these indefensible measures and hasty decisions are totally at variance with section 305 of the constitution, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency in ‘ONLY’ Extreme cases, where public safety, National security or Nigeria’s sovereignty are seriously at risk”.
He said,” in today’s Nigeria, regrettably bedeviled with spiraling killings and deplorable wastage of innocent human lives, with rampaging hordes of bandits, killer herdsmen and mindless ransom – seeking kidnappers, River State undisputable ranks amongst the referable Havens of peace in our country “.
According to High Chief O J Akiri, the political crisis in Rivers State is as a result of the what he described as a squabble between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the federal Capital Territory ( FCT) minister, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike, claiming that the Fct minister set the legislature against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, by erecting an antagonistic logjam in the futile attempt to impeach Fubara.
He regretted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not explore ‘ALL’ known avenues of conflict resolution through dialogue, before hastily resorting to the foregoing measures of abject illegalities.
Chief Akiri who is one-time Director- General, Ministry of Information and Culture and Former, Lecturer, in scientific French and History, at Rivers State University of Science and Technology now Rivers State University, blamed the National Assembly for not exercising its oversight functions on the activities of the Military Some Administrator, went and set up an Ad hoc committee, before the Rivers Sole Administrator Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, in fragrant disobedience of a court order.
Chief Akiri who was first principal secretary, Government House, to the first civilian Government of old Rivers State, under Late Chief Medford Okilo, regretted that Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Rtd, while in fragrant disobedience of the court order, proceeded to appoint Local Government Sole Administrators, which , according to him, is against the supreme court ruling which prohibits to appointment of such persons, even as he alleged that the ultimate agenda of Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Rtd is to organize fresh Local Government Elections.
Meanwhile, in a five page document, signed by the leaders of Simplified Movement in ward 12, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers, such as Engr. Napoleon Okoro, Leader, ward 12, Comrade Saturday Ewor, Ward 12 Chairman, Rt. Hon. Ololube Dennis, Deputy Leader, Dr Elijah Wordah, Hon. Andrew Okoro, Hon. Ambrose ILe, Hon. Adali Nachor and Chief Godwin Ojim, and made available to Independent Monitor, respectively call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran and renowned fighter of Democratic battles to please bring back the elected Governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
