The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has formally appealed to President Bola Tinubu to lift the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State following the recent reconciliation between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
During a media briefing held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the forum described the political crisis that had engulfed the state as a "sad development that deeply wounded the soul of the state" and had "cast an undeserved shadow on our collective image, unity, progress, and prosperity."
The acting chairman of the forum, Alabo Toby, emphasized that their involvement in the matter was motivated solely by the desire to protect the dignity and integrity of Rivers State. The elders expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his intervention in the crisis.
Praise for Peace Efforts
The forum commended both Governor Fubara and Minister Wike for demonstrating "maturity and courage" by embracing peace. "This was exactly what we, the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, had earnestly sought from the very beginning," the forum stated.
"Unfortunately, our initial efforts were not heeded, which necessitated our formal appeal to Mr President," they added, highlighting their previous attempts to resolve the political impasse.
While the specific terms of the reconciliation between Fubara and Wike have not yet been made public, the elders expressed optimism that the peace process is grounded in the 1999 Constitution and adheres fully to the rule of law.
Call for Restoration of Democratic Structures
The forum urged authorities to reinstate all suspended democratic structures in the state as part of the normalization process. They also called on all Rivers citizens to embrace what they described as a "season of peace" and view it as a new beginning characterized by unity and shared purpose.
The political crisis in Rivers State had been a source of significant tension in Nigeria's oil-rich region, with ripple effects on governance and development initiatives in the state.
As the reconciliation process unfolds, stakeholders across the political spectrum are watching closely to see how the renewed relationship between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Wike will shape the political landscape of Rivers State in the coming months.
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