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Tag: Political Crisis

  • Women appeal for peace amid Rivers political crisis

    Women appeal for peace amid Rivers political crisis

    The former member of the Rivers House of Assembly, Victoria Nyeche, has appealed to the warring factions in the Rivers political crisis to sheathe their sword and embrace peace.

    Nyeche made the remark on Friday, during the ‘’Rivers We Want” Town Hall Series II meeting organized by the Rivers Peace Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in Port Harcourt.

    She urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Assembly and Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to toe the part of peace.

    She said that the state could not continue to be in the news for a wrong reasons, adding, “peace is everyone’s business, and we all have a role to play, especially the women.

    Nyeche urged the women to embrace their role of peace building, saying that they could not be silent when things were going wrong.

    ‘’So as nation builders, we’re actually peace builders, and we need to start from our homes and teach our children to have values,

    “We need these values to remain with us through life so that we’ll know what we are standing for, and not fall for everything.

    “We are here to remind Rivers people that this crisis is actually our crisis because we are the ones at the receiving end of the political crisis.’’

    She said that the women should not join in the crisis, but should be part of the solution to the crisis, since without peace, there would be no progress which everyone needed in the state.

    “This is not about taking sides with one thing or the other, we are standing for what is right and standing for the people and the interests of Rivers people.

    Nyeche said that after elections, ‘’we should not be talking about politics, we should be talking about governance and it is time for governance.’’
    She said unfortunately, those involved in the political crisis were still seeing politics and not governance.
    She added that two wrongs could not make a right, adding that people had made mistakes in the crisis

    “My stand is, if we don’t put the interest of the Rivers people first and continue to put our interest first, we will continue to have what is seen playing out.

    According to Nyeche, people are not thinking about the state, people are thinking about themselves, so until we begin to think about the state, these things will continue.

    She said that if the interest of the state was taken into consideration, there would have been a middle ground to stop the crisis.

    She, however, appealed to members of the Assembly and the governor as well as the FCT minister to consider the interest of the state so that it could move forward.

    “On every side, people are being hurt and an eye for an eye leads to total blindness, that’s not what we want, we want peace in Rivers state.

    ” I also appeal to them to listen to good advice especially from their wives; most politicians don’t listen or take their wives advice,” Nyeche said.

    In her keynote address, Mrs Nkoyo Toyo, the Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Ethiopia, emphasised on the role of women in peace building, saying that women are the key drive to peace in the society.

    Toyo, who was also the former Member of the House of Representative, advised women not to take side in the crisis rocking the state but mediate for peace among the gladiators.

    She said that women who felt that their voices could be heard by the actors should intervene but avoid being partisan.

    She urged the women to call the state actors, negotiate and make peace among them for the state to move forward.

    Toyo, who is also the Founder, Gender and Development Action(GADA), advised women to actively take part in shaping the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria at large.

    She mentioned some of the key issues causing Rivers state political crisis as quest for resource control, party structure, and selfish interest by the political elites.

    She advised the political gladiators and their supporters to shift ground, come to a roundtable, agree to lose some of their personal interests for the interest of the state.

    Also, Prof. Faith Aminikpo, the former Head, Department of Film and Theatre Art Department, University of Port Harcourt, called for peace in Rivers.
    She said that with the political crisis in the state, the women and children were the most vulnerable and called on the gladiators to sheathe their swords and allow peace in Rivers.

    Earlier, Mr Obinna Ebogidi, the Convener, Rivers Peace Initiative, said that the theme, “Women’s Town Hall: Navigating Political Crisis for Peace, Unity, and Prosperity in Rivers State,” resonated deeply with the challenges and political instability in the state.

    Obinna said that the town hall meeting was organised in collaboration with the Center for Peace and Security Studies, University of Port Harcourt and Super 93.3 FM, Port Harcourt.

    He stated that the meeting which was supported by the Kebetkache Women Development  Resources Centre, and Faraa Coffee Lounge, Port Harcourt, was aimed at finding solutions to the current political crisis rocking Rivers.

  • Rivers’ political wrangling may hurt investors’ confidence – Group

    Rivers’ political wrangling may hurt investors’ confidence – Group

    The tussle for political supremacy between Gov. Siminalayi Fubar and his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike, could affect investors’ confidence, a group has said.

    The group, ‘Coalition of Rivers Leaders of Thoughts (CORSLOT)’, a non-partisan outfit, told newsmen on Friday in Port Harcourt that the lingering feud could cause economic and security breakdown.

    “CORSLOT fears that the prolonged wrangling may affect investors’ confidence if not addressed,” the group said in a statement signed by its leader, Chief Sunnie Chukumele.

    Other signatories included Prof. Reginah Azuwena, Mrs Odinaka Osundu, Mr George Ijoma and Chief Anuage Menegbo.

    They called on Fubara and Wike to embrace peace so as to restore confidence to the state..

    According to them, investors may avoid the oil-producing state if ongoing “political toxicity” is not contained.

    CORSLOT expressed fear of a possible state of anarchy if the crises continued to gain momentum.

    It promised to continue to apeal to all parties to see the need for peace, and particularly urged Wike, currently FCT minister, to have a rethink on the political imbroglio in Rivers.

    CORSLOT urged “trouble entrepreneurs” and “eye service politicians” to note that power belongs to God and the people, stressing that the Rivers people were taking note of the actions of such selfish characters.

  • Governor, Fubara downplays political crisis in Rivers state, says he’s focused on leadership

    Governor, Fubara downplays political crisis in Rivers state, says he’s focused on leadership

    Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, has dismissed report that the state is engulfed in political crisis, saying his administration has provided focused leadership and governance to the people.

    Fubara made this known while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions at Government House in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said his goal for the Rivers people was delivering good governance.

    The governor explained how the pressure from the unwarranted political crisis served as an enabler to strengthen his commitment to service that is now impacting lives positively.

    “As far as we are concerned, there are no political issues. I had seen a movie many years ago, entitled, ‘Devil’s Advocate.’ I believe some of you must have seen that movie too,” he stated.

    It would be recalled that Rivers State has been embroiled in crisis after a strained relationship between Governor Fubara and his erstwhile political godfather and former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike

    Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), currently serves as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister under President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    At the height of the crisis last year, 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly dumped the PDP for the APC. The lawmakers, led by the Speaker, are loyal to Wike and accused Governor Fubara of starving them of funds.

    The lawmakers have also been having a strained relationship with the governor and attempted to impeach him in the heat of the political crisis in the state before President Bola Tinubu intervened and invited the feuding parties to Abuja which gave birth to an eight-point resolution.

  • Political Crisis: President Tinubu’s intervention not needed – Babatunde Fashola

    Political Crisis: President Tinubu’s intervention not needed – Babatunde Fashola

    Former  Lagos state governor and Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has posited that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention is not needed in the ongoing political crises in Ondo and Rivers states.

    The Lagos -born politician made this known over the weekend at the Nigerian Air Force Officers Mess’ Honorary Members Forum (HMF) 2023 Annual Lecture in Lagos, saying the constitution doesn’t give room for such.

    According to him, the Constitution clearly outlines the proper procedures and roles of officials in such situations.

    The former minister hailed the “blue blood Ondo indigenes” who pushed for law and constitutionality in their state’s recent crisis before the governor’s letter restored calm.

    “Happily, in our Ondo case, some blue-blood Ondo indigenes have stood up to be counted. But they are in an obvious minority,” he stated.

    The ex-Lagos governor noted that going forward, the “leadership in Rivers State” similarly needs to “do the needful.”

    Fashola explained that citizens must also be accountable, rather than improperly demanding presidential action.

    “We have amended the constitution, so what is left to amend, except ourselves?” he concluded.

  • How Jonathan saved Nigeria from political crisis in 2015 – Abdusalami Abubakar

    A former Nigerian military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar on Thursday advised politicians seeking election into public offices to learn from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s magnanimity in conceding defeat to the then opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

    Abubakar noted that this single patriotic act by Jonathan saved the country from political crises.

    Abubakar spoke at a one-day peace conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, with the theme “Peaceful Elections and National Development.”

    Dignitaries at the event include Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener National Peace Committee of Nigeria; Al-Hassan Conteh, Liberia Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as Fidele Sarassoro, Chief of Staff to the President of Cote d’Ivoire.

    Abubakar, who was the chairman of the conference, said Mr Jonathan kept to his words that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    He called on key political actors in Nigeria, particularly those seeking elective positions, to do everything possible to ensure peace in the forthcoming general elections because “Nigeria is not a stranger to electoral violence.”

    He urged all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful nation because, “Without peace, there would be no nation, and without a nation, there would be no election.”

    “The period of election in the country is often tension-soaked because of the competition involved. Nigeria is not a stranger to electoral violence. Jonathan kept his word that his presidency is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

    “He graciously conceded defeat. He saved the country from falling into political crisis. Nigerians and indeed, the world are praying that the election would be peaceful. Without peace, there would be no nation, and without a nation, there would be no election,” he said.

    Speaking earlier at the event, Jonathan spoke about the need for unity in Nigeria.

    “We experienced the civil war that ended since 1970. But up to date, the feelings are still in even children who were not born at that time because of the stories they get told. And that is why we must do everything to avoid conflict because it is always difficult to erase these feelings,” the former president said.

    Recall that the former president, before the announcement of the final results of the 2015 general presidential elections, in a move that shocked many political pundits, conceded defeat to the current president, Muhamadu Buhari, after a keenly contested poll.

    That was the first time an incumbent would be losing the top seat (and conceding victory) to an opposition party in Nigeria.

    Jonathan has been celebrated globally for his action, which many believe saved the country from political turmoil.

  • Buhari’s Absence: Presidency dismisses report on political, constitutional crisis

    Buhari’s Absence: Presidency dismisses report on political, constitutional crisis

    Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu has dismissed an article speculating that Nigeria faces imminent political and constitutional crisis on account of President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence to attend to his health in London.

    The article was written by a Nigerian historian, Max Siollun, entitled “The Gentleman’s Agreement that Could Break Apart Nigeria,” published in the United States-based Foreign Policy magazine.

    Shehu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described the article as “needlessly sensational and exaggerated speculations by conspiracy theorists’’.

    The presidential aide explained that it was misleading to compare President Buhari’s case to that of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, adding that the circumstances were completely different.

    According to him, unlike Yar’Adua, President Buhari has duly complied with the constitutional requirements by formally notifying the National Assembly of his intention to go for medical treatment and handing over to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President.

    “While Yar’Adua was too severely ill to transmit a letter formally to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Buhari is not in such medical state, and therefore, the country is not currently facing any complications on account of his absence,’’ he added.

    He noted that under Yar’Adua, there was uncertainty about the role of the Vice President because the late President was not in a position to formally transfer power to his deputy, which necessitated the resort to the doctrine of necessity to enable Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to act in his absence.

    The media aide explained that “currently, none of these circumstances prevail in Nigeria on account of President Buhari’s absence for medical treatment’’.

    According to him, having transferred power formally to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, President Buhari did not leave Nigeria with any power vacuum.

    “Therefore, any suggestions of uncertainty or constitutional crisis are imaginary and exaggerated.’’

    He explained that with the Acting President Osinbajo already running the affairs of the country in the absence of President Buhari, people should stop creating artificial fears of crisis or uncertainty.

    He noted that governance had not grounded to a halt because President Buhari had duly complied with the constitution.

    Shehu appealed to conspiracy theorists not to pollute the polity by needlessly seeking to create an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and suspicions in the country.

    The media aide said that the president publicly admitted he was sick and taking treatment and that he never pretended about his health condition, with the open admission.