LAGOS, NIGERIA – A legal advocacy group, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Lawyers, has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as, courageous, and genius leadership decision.

The group National Convener, Mrs Abibat Bankole-Apena said this while speaking with newmen in Lagos.

Bankole-Apena, in her reaction to the River State state of emergency said that the president acted within the confines of the law, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowered the president to declare a state of emergency in situations of “actual breakdown of public order and public safety” or “clear and present danger” that threatens national security.

The BAT Lawyers argued that the president had exhausted all mediation efforts to resolve the crisis before resorting to emergency measures.

According to the group, no responsible president of a sovereign nation will cross legs and allow government properties to be destroyed deliberately causing economic sabotage to a country that is just wriggling out of inflation, without taking firm steps to nip further disastrous actions in the bud.

The legal group further cited past precedents, recalling that former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had declared similar emergency measures in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States (2013).

“These instances, reaffirm the constitutionality of Mr president’s action,” Bankole-Apena said.

The National Secretary of the group, Mr Femi Ishola also dismissed criticisms from political analysts and social media commentators questioning the legality of the president’s decision.

Ishola maintained that the declaration was a courageous, impartial and ingenious move by Tinubu to protect national and state assets.

He added that the move was to force all warring parties to sheath their swords.

“It is also a move geared towards restoring law and order and ensure a peaceful Rivers State to the benefit of the people and Nigerians at large.

Ishola said: “We firmly posit, that pursuant to the failed several mediation measures employed by the President in recent past, in order to resolve the prolonged political crisis in state state, the flagrant disregard for the Supreme Court Judgment by Governor Fubara, the political precedence of declaration of state of emergency, the threats and actualisation of threats carried out by Niger Delta Militant Group and the satisfaction of the constitutional provision required to declare a state of emergency,

“His excellency has acted within the bounds of the Law.

“The declaration was a courageous, impartial and ingenious move to protect national and state assets, force all warring parties to sheath their swords, restore law and order and ensure peace in the state.”

Tinubu declared the emergency on March 18, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.

The president, however, appointed Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas to oversee the state’s affairs.

The president’s move was sequel to prolonged political crisis in the state, which escalated into violent incidents, including pipeline explosions in Gokana and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas that led to economic losses of over $35 million daily