The South-South Youths Initiative has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an act of injustice that favours former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Imeabe Oscar, the group criticized the president’s decision to suspend Governor Siminialayi Fubara and his deputy while allowing Wike, who they described as the main actor in the crisis, to remain in office.
“We believe that the president would have taken a different measure in resolving the political crisis in the state rather than suspending the democratically elected executive arm of the state for six months and appointing a sole administrator,” the statement read.
The group further accused President Tinubu of bias, stating that excluding Wike from the suspension order raises concerns about fairness.
“It is in public view that the political war in Rivers State is chiefly between Governor Fubara and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike. The Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly is only playing the script handed to them by their master, Wike. If this is established, then it is clear that allowing Wike to continue in office while others have been suspended tells the youths of the region that the president is more interested in the peace of one man than the peace and development of Rivers State,” the group said.
The youth organization called on the president to prove his impartiality by immediately suspending Wike.
“In the interest of fairness, equity, justice, and fair play, we call on President Tinubu to suspend the former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, as FCT Minister. This will clear our doubts about whether he is truly fair in his declaration,” the statement emphasized.
The group also urged the National Assembly to reject the state of emergency, arguing that it undermines democracy.
“We had, as a people, prayed that nothing would thwart democracy in this country, even if it is still wobbling,” the statement noted.
Furthermore, they questioned why a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State while security crises in parts of the North remain unaddressed.
“If this measure is necessary, then what happened to some states in the northern part of the country where bandits, Boko Haram, and other sects are killing and maiming people?” the group asked.
Despite their grievances, the South-South Youths Initiative called for calm, urging Rivers residents to remain peaceful as the state navigates this difficult period.
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