admin
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has invited Mudiaga Ogboru, national spokesperson of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), over calls for protest in Rivers state.
In a statement dated March 23 and signed by Ogboru, the NDC faulted the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.
The group asked Rivers residents to take to the streets to protest “indirect and undemocratic rule” in the state.
“We demand that President Tinubu immediately reverse this decision, reinstate Governor Fubara and the elected assembly, and commit to dialogue over diktat. To this end, we call on our people to take to the streets in a peaceful protest against indirect and undemocratic rule in Rivers State,” the group had said.
After the release of the statement, the Lagos police command, through a letter, asked Ogboru to appear at the state intelligence department (SID) in Ikeja for “fact-finding” on March 25, 2025.
Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, the NDC spokesperson said he received another invitation via phone from the Rivers police command.
Ogboru said he had told the Lagos police command that he would honour the invitation of the Rivers police command.
The NDC spokesperson said Nubari Saatah, national president of the group, who resides in Rivers, has been arrested and detained by operatives of the Rivers command.
When TheCable contacted Grace Iringe-Koko, Rivers police spokesperson, to confirm the arrest of Saatah, she said the police have not arrested anyone in connection with the viral statement.
She added that the NDC spokesperson is yet to honour the police invitation.
“We will find out (arrest of Saatah) and get back to you,” Iringe-Koko said.
EMERGENCY RULE
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers over the protracted political crisis in the state.
The president had suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.
The president appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as the sole administrator of the state.
Forty-eight hours later, the senate and the house of representatives controversially approved Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule.
Several stakeholders have condemned the emergency rule in Rivers.
