The Southern Solidarity Alliance (SSA) has call on President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to immediately repeal the state of emergency in Rivers State and ensure the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as well as the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly back to office.
In a statement by Ndubuisi Okafor, national coordinator, it is noted that President Tinubu may have been ill-advised in particularly suspending elected officials of state, even under an emergency rule.
“Only appointed officials are promptly suspended or removed from office. Even for some constitutional appointees, there are laid down procedures. We dare wonder whether it is the same Tinubu who as Lagos State Governor, successfully resisted (to the admiration of many) the excesses of the Federal Government, who has clamped down on all institutions of democracy in Rivers State under unfolded very controversial circumstances by this suspension.
“Democracy should never be suspended(even if temporarily or not) in Nigeria or any part of Nigeria thereof. Such a suspension is a serious sign of instability and sends dangerous signals to the global community and must be avoided in every way possible. This action has further negative implications for the dwindling Nigerian economy.
“We call on former office holders to please respect the offices they once held notwithstanding the temptations and provocations, this is because there can only be one elected office holder at a time. We urge all public office holders to subscribe to the rule of law and avoid unnecessary tension, overheating of the polity and problems capable of threatening and truncating development and democracy. They should always have the people’s interest at heart, not their selfish interests.
“Conflict resolution mechanisms and consultations should always be patiently employed to resolve issues and parties in a conflict should willingly accept such resolutions in the interest of the people they serve.
“Members of the National Assembly are exhorted to always act only in the interest of democracy, development and Nigeria.
“Politicians should note that they cannot win all their wars. You win some and you lose some, that’s the natural tendency in all things. They should give peace, development and democracy in Nigeria a chance.”