The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to lift the state of emergency imposed on the state.
The forum made the call in the wake of the recent reconciliation between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
It made the appeal on Thursday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, describing the political crisis that bedevilled the state over the past few months as a sad development that deeply wounded the soul of the state and “cast an undeserved shadow on our collective image, unity, progress, and prosperity.”
The forum, while thanking President Tinubu for wading into the crisis, lauded both leaders for what they described as a “show of maturity and courage” in embracing peace.
“This was exactly what we, the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, had earnestly sought from the very beginning.
“Unfortunately, our initial efforts were not heeded, which necessitated our formal appeal to Mr President,” the forum said.
The acting chairman of the forum, Alabo Toby, stressed that their involvement was driven solely by the desire to protect the soul and dignity of Rivers State.
Though the terms of the reconciliation are yet to be made public, the elders expressed hope that the process is anchored within the 1999 Constitution and in full compliance with the rule of law.
The forum urged authorities to reinstate all suspended democratic structures, calling on Rivers citizens to embrace the season of peace as a new beginning marked by unity and shared purpose.
“To this end, we request that, since peace and reconciliation have been achieved, It is our considered view that the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State be lifted and all suspended democratic structures fully restored. The will of Rivers people should be respected, and the institutions of democratic governance must be allowed to function freely and transparently.”
