A pro-Fubara socio-political pressure group, the Simplified Movement Worldwide (SMW), has expressed its confidence in the ability of the sole administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) to manage the affairs of the state.
It however refuted comments attributed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, which suggested that the emergency rule was necessitated by rising insecurity in the state.
SMW, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday by its director-general, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, described Fagbtmi’s claims as “baseless and fallacious,” insisting that the state had remained largely peaceful under the now suspended governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara despite the political tensions.
The group argued that President Tinubu might have been misled into declaring the emergency rule, emphasising that Governor Fubara remains committed to upholding the rule of law.
Meanwhile, a coalition of 10 civil society organisations has described the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State as an “assault on democracy.”
The coalition under the auspices of the Concerned Civil Society Organisations in Rivers State, said the declaration is particularly alarming as it comes in the midst of an orchestrated political crisis, driven by vested interests operating both within and outside the state.
The coalition is made up of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the Rivers Coalition for Human Rights (RCHR), the Centre for Labour Rights and Development (CLRD) and seven others.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, CLO South-South zonal chairman, Chinedu Karl Uchegbu, called for the immediate reversal of the state of emergency in the state.
Uchegbu also called for an independent panel to investigate the root causes of the crisis, ensuring accountability and justice as well as the engagement of stakeholders in constructive dialogue to resolve the political impasse and prioritise the welfare of Rivers State residents.
He said, “In light of these concerns, we demand that President Tinubu must rescind the state of emergency and reinstate all duly elected officials to restore constitutional order.”
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