The Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, made accusations that it intended to overthrow the government of Rivers State through force, but the All Progressives Congress, or APC, has dismissed these claims as absurd and unfounded.
It further stated that the PDP provided no explanation for its baseless allegation other than to playfully distort and emphasize remarks purportedly made by Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee, while ignoring the important problems at the root of the brewing crisis in Rivers State.
He pointed out that rather than providing Governor Sim Fubara with a crash lesson on the fundamentals of democratic and constitutional administration for the good people of Rivers State, the PDP would rather to spread lies about an alleged plot to overthrow the state’s government.
In a statement released on Thursday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka emphasized that the current crisis in Rivers State was orchestrated and carried out by Governor Sim Fubara, who has persisted in usurping the legislative authority of the state legislature while disdainfully ignoring legitimate rulings and orders of courts with competent jurisdiction in crucial cases that are at the heart of the state’s crisis.
The African Progressive Congress (APC) claimed that the governor had persisted in using public monies without valid authorization from a properly assembled legislature, so weakening the desire of the decent people of Rivers State and their entitlement to efficient and responsible democratic governance.
Morka stated: “Quite contrary to the PDP’s misplaced quibbles against Chief Okocha’s comments, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the supreme architect of the horrific crisis rocking Rivers State.
“Since assuming office over a year ago, Governor Fubara has displayed reckless disdain for the rule of law and democratic institutions and conducted his government in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In an unprecedented display of autocratic arrogance, Governor Fubara declared the democratically elected Rivers State House of Assembly to be non-existent and, without lawful authority, constituted a bogus and illegal 3-man sham assembly in brazen violation of express provisions of the Constitution on the threshold composition of the House of Assembly and in disregard of the separation of powers doctrine.”
