The Rivers Peace Congress (RPC) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, claiming the intervention prevented anarchy and has yielded positive results in restoring peace to the politically volatile region.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its national president, Comrade Randy Prince, the group described the President's decision as "bold, timely, and necessary" to protect democracy, lives, and public assets from being compromised by personal power struggles.

The RPC acknowledged Tinubu's decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appoint a Sole Administrator following what they characterized as "months of legislative disobedience, governance breakdown, and brewing anarchy."

"The intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State came at a time when the very fabric of governance was at risk," the statement read. "The breakdown of trust between the executive and legislature had reached dangerous levels. We had a governor who defied court orders, ignored constitutional checks, and appeared more interested in fighting perceived enemies than in governing. The state was on the brink. But with the state of emergency in place, we are now seeing calm return, institutions function again, and citizens breathe a sigh of relief."

According to the group, there has been visible improvement in inter-agency cooperation, public service delivery, and conflict resolution, particularly in Port Harcourt and surrounding local councils since the emergency declaration.

"Rivers people can now go to sleep with both eyes closed. Markets have reopened without fear of politically motivated violence. Civil servants are receiving their salaries without stories. The ministries are working, and public projects have resumed. The paralysis that plagued governance has been lifted. And the credit goes to President Tinubu for putting the interest of the people above politics," the statement added.

Prince noted that while some critics may describe the move as undemocratic, the bigger picture was the preservation of national unity and salvaging the state from total collapse.

"Let us be honest with ourselves, Rivers State was sinking into a constitutional crisis. The judiciary was under siege. The state assembly had become a theatre of war. The governor, by his conduct, isolated himself from elders and even the rule of law. President Tinubu acted, not out of malice, but in defence of peace and the democratic order," he stated.

The RPC also praised the appointed Sole Administrator, referred to as Ibas in the statement, describing him as "a bridge builder" who has reached out to all factions with dignity and respect.

The group urged international observers and rights organizations to understand the context before criticizing the emergency declaration, emphasizing that extraordinary times often require extraordinary measures to preserve peace and order.

"We invite the international community to see Rivers not through the lens of propaganda but through the real experiences of its citizens," the statement said. "Those who are shouting dictatorship from afar did not live here when government offices were under siege and 26 lawmakers were locked out of the assembly thereby denying thousands of Rivers people representation."

The RPC called on Rivers elites, traditional rulers, and the business community to support the Sole Administrator and the federal government's roadmap to full political reconciliation and eventual return to democratic elections in the state.

"This is not the time to divide the state further; this is the time for healing. We call on all stakeholders to put Rivers first. We cannot afford to allow personal egos or ethnic loyalties to derail the progress we have started seeing. The Tinubu administration has shown that it has the genuine interest of Rivers at heart. Let us work with it," the statement concluded.