BUILDING BRIDGES NOT BARRIERS: A DECLARATION AGAINST THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN RIVERS STATE.—BY CHIMENEM DAVID ESQ.
French President, Emmanuel Macron rightly said, ‘we must not let political crisis turn into a social and economic crisis’.
Nigerians have expressed with dismay the ongoing political upheavals that have bedevilled the treasure base of our country . The past one year has brought countless unappealing scenery and disturbances over who is the chief engineer of an imaginary structure that controls the helm of affairs.
From the bedraggled House of Assembly impasse, to the unsavoury media wars, plethora of litigations, and the recent cacophony of discordant noises emanating from the recently concluded local government elections.
This spark of chaos if left unchecked will degenerate into an inferno that may consume our fledgling democracy.
We cannot as citizens turn a blind eye like the proverbial elder in the house when the goat is delivering in the back yard.
Docility at a time when our dear state is being subjected to the whims and fancies of a few ruthless individuals will be more devastating than we can imagine.
On Monday 6th October 2024, reports of arson against local government secretariats was widespread as if we were still in the nasty and brutish state of nature.
The heated- Concluded local government elections have come and gone but the provocateurs and mayhem seekers have turned a blind eye that the polls was a product of a judicial proceeding. Not just from any superior court but the infallible Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The dissimilarity of the orders from the Federal High court and Rivers State High court is only an academic discourse.
The controversy generated by the decisions of their Lordships, Hon. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High court Abuja and Hon. Justice I.P.C. Igwe of the Rivers State High court cannot be painted to be a battlefield of federal and state supremacy.
A cursory glance at the pronouncement of the Apex court in MANDARA V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (1984) 1 SCNLR 311 postulates that, “There can be no room for the creation of federal justice and state justice”.
In other words, such dichotomous abrogation of justice is alien.
The bulk of that controversy have been laid to rest in July 2024 when the Rivers State Government in concert with the supreme court’s landmark decision in ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ABIA STATE & ORS.(2024) unanimously granted Local government autonomy and therein ordered that elections be conducted within 3 months of the decision.
Other states have conducted their elections and it was without fanfare. Why will that of Rivers State be any different?
The economic height of Rivers State to the revenue of the federation as a gateway of the Niger Delta region cannot be controverted.
It is gradually peeling off our economic prospects as business development can only thrive in a conducive and not a hostile environment.
It is recommended that;
1) All individual and institutional actors involved in the crisis uphold the tenets of democracy, inclusivity, reverence for the rule of law and constituted authority.
2) A speedy resolution of this unwarranted man-made crisis be embraced.
3) Collaboration among all critical stakeholders.
All political leaders in Rivers State are further beckoned to:
1) De-escalate tension and Engage in constructive dialogue.
2) Find a common ground for the greater good of Rivers people.
In culmination, I urge all residents of our dear state to shun violence and resist the call to become pawns in the hands of unpatriotic persons no matter how highly placed.
Peace is priceless. Terror is senseless.
Let us choose dialogue over violence, working towards a peaceful resolution and prioritise humanity, empathy and patriotism in this crisis.
We must be the architects of peace in this challenges, building bridges and not walls.
May our dear Rivers state and Nigeria always stand strong and United!
