A prominent Ijaw leader and Convener of the South-South Reawakening Group (SSRG), Joseph Ambakaderimo, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lift the state of emergency in Rivers State following the recent truce between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Ambakaderimo, while commending the President for brokering peace between the warring camps, said the development shows both leaders are now committed to restoring constitutional order and democratic governance in the state.
Speaking in a statement made available to newsmen, the Niger Delta elder statesman noted that the emergency rule, declared on March 18, served its purpose but should now be discontinued.
“We appeal to the President to use his constitutional powers to lift the emergency rule, as the concerned parties have shown genuine intent to work together for lasting peace,” he said.
TIME.I.NG reports that Ambakaderimo described the President’s initial decision to suspend the governor, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly as “drastic but necessary.”
“Though the state of emergency was widely criticized, sometimes tough decisions outside the constitutional norm are needed to protect public peace,” he added.
Ambakaderimo did not spare some Ijaw leaders in his remarks, accusing them of escalating the crisis through politicised narratives and ethnic posturing.
“Their actions turned a mere political disagreement into an ethnic issue, which contributed to the declaration of emergency rule. Instead of seeking peaceful solutions, they chose to point fingers at the President,” he stated.
He cautioned that continued politicisation could undermine the progress made so far.
The SSRG convener urged all stakeholders in Rivers State to maintain restraint in their public statements, noting that inflammatory rhetoric could derail efforts to reinstate democratic structures.
He said, “We must all guard our utterances and avoid actions that could jeopardize the peace process or the reinstatement of Governor Fubara.”
Ambakaderimo also praised Governor Fubara for what he described as “mature leadership” in the face of provocation and political pressure.
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