The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has blamed the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV News from 2:41, Morka argued that Fubara’s actions were the root cause of the turmoil that led to the federal government’s intervention and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
According to Morka, the crisis began when Governor Fubara attempted to remove the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
When the lawmakers resisted, he allegedly withdrew their financial entitlements and went further to demolish the state assembly complex in Port Harcourt.
Morka emphasized that such actions amounted to an attack on democracy, as they sought to cripple the legislative arm of government, which is an essential pillar of governance.
The APC spokesman stated that the destruction of the assembly complex signified an attempt to subvert democratic principles by preventing lawmakers from performing their constitutional duties. He maintained that Fubara’s conduct created a political atmosphere of instability, forcing the federal government to step in to restore order.
The crisis in Rivers State had escalated over the past few months, with a deepening rift between Governor Fubara and the state legislature. Lawmakers had accused him of financial mismanagement, leading to impeachment proceedings against him.
In response to the crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.
A retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was appointed as the interim administrator to oversee governance during this period.
Morka defended the federal government’s intervention, stating that the decision was necessary to prevent further deterioration of security and governance in the state.
In his words; “We must not forget the context—what led us to this point. The governor of Rivers State, just a couple of months into his administration, was seeking to remove the Speaker of the House of Assembly. When the Assembly did not comply, he stripped them of all financial support and then proceeded to destroy the House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt. When he did that, Governor Fubara destroyed governance in the state. He subverted democracy when he attempted to abolish an arm of government—the legislature. You don’t do that. Democracy requires the coexistence of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. What he did was a frontal attack on democracy, and that’s exactly what the Supreme Court said. He created the conditions that led to this crisis, which is why, as far as I’m concerned, he is the author of this extreme event.”