Governorship candidate of Labour Party in the last election in Rivers State, Isaac Wonwu, has urged the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, to review his lockdown order in parts of the state and plan towards development of the state after Covid-19.
Chief Wonwu in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, also condemned purported call by some citizens of the state based in Abuja allegedly seeking the Federal government to declare state of emergency in Rivers.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday night, Mr Paulinus Nsirim,
Commissioner for Information and Communications alleged in a statement that some Abuja based indigenes are calling for state of emergency in the state.
In the statement, Mr Nsirim stated “The Rivers State Government has uncovered plans by some citizens of the State who reside in Abuja to cause a breakdown of law and order in order to declare a State of Emergency.
“These persons whose attempts to declare State of Emergency in the State since 2015 would never succeeded because of God’s intervention, did everything within their powers to ensure that the 2019 Governorship Election results were not announced but also failed.
“As the build up for the 2023 elections and jostle for Presidential and Vice-Presidential tickets is gathering momentum, they want to use COVID-19 to create a crisis as if the State is at war with the Federal Government.
“Instead of supporting our efforts, these Abuja politicians are busy looking for a State of Emergency because they want to acquire power.” the Commissioner alleged, noting that the state government’s fight against COVID-19 is to protect the lives of everyone living and doing business in the State”.
Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the state, who condemned the call for the state of emergency, stressing that those who behind the move are enemies of the state however, advised the governor to work closely with the federal government for achieved development in the state.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the speculated state of emergency to be declared in Rivers State.
“We condemned such baseless actions, considering such people behind it as enemy of the state.
“We call on governor Wike to review the lock down in the state and appoint a thick tank committee that will marshal a developmental plan for the state and to look inward on post covid-19 pandemic with a view of sustaining the economy of Rivers State.
“We equally appeal to the governor to show some diplomacy in working with the federal government.
“Labour party advocates for state of emergency on Agriculture development to promote food security in the state”, Chief Wonwu added.
