Amid the crises rocking the Senate chamber and Rivers State, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgent public importance, invite all warring politicians and settle whatever misunderstanding they have against each other in the interest of democracy and good governance.
This was just as the rights group called on all the political stakeholders across the country to play their political chess games with utmost sense of maturity, such that the overall interest of the nation’s hard-earned democracy would not be submerged.
National President of CD, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, made this call in a release made available to newsmen on Thursday, saying that having watched the nation’s sphere of politics, particularly the complex and tumultuous landscape of political power, interests, and ideologies with serious concern, the “prevailing climate of opinion, sentiment, and ideology are such capable of rocking the boat of Nigeria’s democracy, which we critically frowned at.”
According to him, interests, alliances, and rivalries within the nation’s political sphere are assuming a state of panic, sadly noting that real purpose of the Red Chamber has been jeopardized since the allegation of swapping seats at the Senate and sexual harassment leveled against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Uduagan.Â
Besides, Odili noted that the Wike-Fubara crisis had taken away governance and peace from the Rivers State people, saying that they “have been completely robbed of dividends of democracy, thereby rubbishing the reasons and purposes for going to the polls to elect who govern them.”
He posited that it was indescribable and unimaginable that former Governor Nyesome Wike and his successor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, could not bury whatever grudges they hold against themselves and sheathe their swords in the interest of the people of the state.
“We, therefore, call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgent public importance, invite all warring politicians and settle whatever misunderstanding they have against themselves in the interest of democracy and good governance.
“Campaign for Democracy CD has called on all the political stakeholders across Nigeria to play their political chess games with utmost sense of maturity, such that the overall interest of the nation’s hard earned democracy will not be submerged.
“We have watched the nation’s sphere of politics, particularly the complex and tumultuous landscape of political power, interests, and ideologies with serious concern. The prevailing climate of opinion, sentiment, and ideology are such capable of rocking the boat of Nigeria’s democracy which we critically frowned at. Interests, alliances, and rivalries within the political sphere are assuming a state of panic.
“Since the allegation of swapping of seat at the Senate and sexual harassment leveled against the Goodwill Akpabio, President of the Senate by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan real purpose of the Red Chamber has been jeopardized.
“Also in Rivers State, the Wike-Fubara crisis has taken away governance and peace from Rivers State people. The people thereof have been completely robbed of dividends of democracy, thereby rubbishing the reasons and purposes for going to the polls to elect who governs them.
“It is, therefore, indescribable and unimaginable that Mr. Wike and his successor, Mr. Fubara can not bury whatever grudges they hold against themselves and sheathe their swords in the interest of the people of Rivers State.
“We make bold to say that these political gladiators who are at each other’s neck do not know what it entailed to put this democratic principles in place, reason for all the political misdemeanors,” Odili said.
Speaking further, Odili said the group led by him was not unaware of the reasons for all the strife in Rivers State and the Senate, but decided to keep mute to see if the gladiators would be reasonable enough to forgive one another and sue for peace in the interests of their people.
He, however, vowed that CD would no longer fold its hands and watch the nation coasting towards Lagoon if the above-mentioned issues were not settled soon enough, adding that it shall constructively engage the Federal Government and damn all its threats against people’s perspectives, opinions, or expressions that contradict, challenge, or question its dominant view and authority.
“CD is not unaware of the reasons for all the strife in Rivers State and the Senate, but we have decided to keep mute to see if they will be reasonable enough to forgive one another and sue for peace in the interests of their people.
“If the above mentioned issues are not settled soon enough, we will no longer fold our hands and watch our nation coasting towards lagoon, but we shall constructively engage the Federal Government and damn all its threats against people’s perspectives, opinions, or expressions that contradict, challenge, or questions the dominant view, and authority of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Odili said.
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