A pro-democracy group, Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy, has urged President Bola Tinubu to establish a reconciliation committee within 14 days to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.
This call comes after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Governor Siminilayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The group’s convener, Dr. Olayemi Isaacs, at a press conference in Abuja expressed concerns that the state of emergency would only lead to a “forced peace” and encourage parties to hide their true intentions.
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Instead, he advocated for reconciliatory steps in a democratic setting to achieve genuine peace.
According to Dr. Isaacs, genuine peace can only come to Rivers State through reconciliatory steps taken in a truly democratic setting.
The group criticized President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, stating that it validated the ugly practice of corrupt political godfatherism by siding with former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Tinubu’s cabinet.
They argued that Wike’s overbearing rent-seeking behavior was the root cause of the crisis in Rivers State.
The Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy demanded that President Tinubu set up a panel of non-partisan eminent Nigerians to mediate between the rival parties in the Rivers State crisis.
They emphasised that the mediatory efforts must be concluded within 60 days, allowing the state of emergency to be lifted within 90 days of its declaration.
The group warned that allowing the state of emergency to run longer than 90 days would compound the problem in the state, threatening and possibly jeopardizing Nigeria’s democracy.
They urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to establish the reconciliation committee and begin the process of resolving the crisis in Rivers State.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to end the state of emergency he imposed on Rivers State within 90 days of its proclamation,” Isaacs added.
“Allowing it to run longer than this period will compound the problem in the state in a way that will threaten and possibly jeopardize Nigeria’s democracy.
“Furthermore, the Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy demands that President Tinubu, within 14 days, set up a panel of non-partisan eminent Nigerians to mediate between the rival parties in the Rivers State crisis.
“The mediatory efforts must be concluded within 60 days so that the state of emergency can be lifted within 90 days of its declaration.
“Finally, we call on political parties to rein in their members in states that have similar political wranglings ongoing so that President Tinubu would not have the excuse to suspend democratic structures in more parts of the country.
“Where political parties fail to heed this counsel, they can be assured that there will not be many states left under democratic rule before the 2027 General Elections.”
