A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across the country has described the state of emergency declaration in Rivers as the handiwork of ant-democracy individuals seeking to undemocratically control the State’s politics and resources
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dr Christian Onyegbule of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), who denounced the emergency rule in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday – earlier today, March 22 -described the development as an attack on the will of the people of Rivers.
Arguing that President Bola Tinubu should have addressed the root causes of the conflict, rather than declaring a state of emergency, Dr Onyegbule insisted that an emergency rule, especially the way it was imposed on Rivers, “is an extreme decision that undermines peace and stability.”
Onyegbule described the inability or refusal of the federal government to hold the key political actor accountable for his purported role in the Rivers political crises as disappointing and unacceptable, condemning the actions of key instigators who, he said, had actively fuelled the crisis.
According to Onyegbule, by empowering political actors who thrived in division, complicity in the subversion of democracy in Rivers might have been signalled.
The civil and political rights activist also condemned the alleged attempt to link Fubara to the recent pipeline explosion, challenging the accusers of the suspended Governor to present credible evidence of any genuine threats posed by Fubara.
The coalition outlined its demands, which include the immediate reversal of the state of emergency, an impartial investigation into the crises, as well as dialogue and reconciliation among actors, and respect for judicial decisions.
‘’We stand in solidarity with the people of Rivers State and reaffirm our commitment to democracy, justice and the rule of law,” Onyegbule said.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the coalition includes groups such as the Civil Liberties Organisation, Rivers Coalition for Human Rights and the Centre for Labour Rights and Development.
Others are the Defence for Human Rights and Democracy, Global Rights Initiative, Women in Nigeria, Human Rights Africa Network, Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Legal Assistance Network, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, among others.
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