The Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives has said that the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State was apt, timely and constitutionally appropriate.

It added that the government cannot sit down and allow miscreants, hoodlums and politically motivated thugs to continue to destroy critical national assets at the expense of the national economy.

The Caucus also called on the coalition of opposition party leaders to live above partisan lines and be wary of the fact that the laws of the land are unambiguously sacrosanct and cannot be contemplated by anyone.

The chairman and leader of the Northern Caucus, Ado Doguwa, in a statement issued Thursday, accused the suspended governor, Sim Fubara and some other interests outside the state of having knowledge of destruction of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector in the Niger Delta.

The statement noted, “In view of the ongoing discourse on the state of emergency in Rivers State, we are compelled to state clearly that the steps taken by Mr. President and C in C of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are apt, timely and constitutionally appropriate.

“We as a legislative institution will not allow Mr. President’s constitutional declaration of emergency to fail.”

The Caucus noted that while the parliament was not insensitive to the constitutional imperatives and implications involved, it would not however ignore or take for granted the derailment of law and order in Rivers State.

“We cannot also as a legislative house or as a government sit down and allow miscreants, hoodlums, and politically motivated thugs continue to destroy critical national assets at the expense of our national economy.

“What is happening today by way of destructions of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector is allegedly with the conspiracy of the suspended Governor of the state and some politically motivated players outside Rivers State.

“In the circumstances therefore, I would like to on behalf of the Northern Regional Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives, state that we are in total support of of the state of emergency declared by Mr. President in the discharge of his constitutional powers as clearly stated in Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Responding to positions taken by the coalition of political leaders, the Caucus stressed that the parliament is guided by moral conscience, commitment to protecting democratic ideals, respect for supreme legal document and historical precedence.

“Nigeria is indeed greater than any selfish coalition and its conspiracies. The constitutional proclamation of emergency in Rivers State must stand,” the Caucus maintained.

Declaration of state of emergency in Rivers must stand – Northern Reps Caucus