Dr. Ladan Salihu, a prominent member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and spokesperson for the League of Northern Democrats, has strongly criticized Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for allegedly misleading the public in his defense of the federal government’s actions in Rivers State. Salihu described Morka’s justification of the state of emergency in Rivers as “scandalous” and “misleading,” expressing disappointment that a legal professional would make such statements on national television.
Salihu emphasized the importance of ethical communication in politics, stating that crossing moral boundaries erodes public trust. “There are red lines I won’t cross—those that affect our integrity, unity, and democracy,” he said. He further criticized Morka’s defense of the federal government, arguing that political spokespersons must uphold credibility and trustworthiness, qualities he believes Morka’s stance lacked.
Turning to former Rivers State Governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Salihu held him responsible for the political turmoil in the state. He accused Wike of interfering with the governance of his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, thereby undermining democracy and stalling progress in Rivers. “The Nigerian Constitution grants Governor Fubara full authority to govern. Any interference is an attack on democracy,” Salihu asserted.
Salihu also condemned the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, calling the National Assembly’s approval process unconstitutional. He argued that the constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote, which was not properly followed. “What we witnessed was a charade designed to justify federal intervention,” he said. He criticized the lack of transparency in the voting process, stressing that Nigerians deserve to know how their representatives voted.
Additionally, Salihu blamed the opposition’s failure to effectively challenge the vote on the restrictive control of debate by presiding officers, which prevented open discussion. In conclusion, he called for accountability and adherence to democratic principles in addressing the crisis in Rivers State and the handling of the state of emergency
