The Democratic Front (TDF) has urged the Rivers state governor Simlayi Fubara and other political stakeholders in the state to ensure that the Supreme Court ruling is sacrosanct
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF urged them to also toe the reconciliatory path laid down by President Bola Tinubu in the aftermath of the court’s stance.
It said: “In appreciation of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the political crisis that has bedevilled River State in the last two years, The Democratic Front (TDF) has decided to call on all warring parties in the ongoing impasse to sheath their swords and adopt the reconciliatory political approach initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a year ago, as the recipe for amicable resolution of differences.
“Our interpretation and understanding of the apex court’s decision to reinstate the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 members of the State Assembly, shows that the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was misled to have rejected the peaceful political compromise that was initiated by President Bola Tinubu in the wake of the avoidable crisis.
“It was sad enough that the Rivers State Governor allowed the merchants of discords to mislead him into an unprofitable political confrontation, over a matter that would have been amicably resolved by the fantastic peace move by the President.
“As a state that hosts economically important facilities under the operation of oil Majors like Shell, TotalEnergies, Agip, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Rivers State is too central to the heart of the nation’s economy. And must not be allowed to be consumed by the ongoing political fiasco of vested interests.
“We,, therefore call on the State Governor, PANDEF and all other stakeholders in Rivers State to eschew bitterness, rancour, and every other action that will further escalate the crisis, by obeying the verdict of the Supreme Court, and also exploring the reconciliatory channels that were provided by President Tinubu’s intervention in the matter a year ago, so that peace and relative harmony can be restored to the administration of the state, and its local governments. ”
TDF also reserved strong words for agitators threatening a breach of the peace over the Supreme Court ruling.
“Furthermore, we condemn, in the strongest terms, attempts by some self-serving ethnocultural groups within the state and the wider Niger Delta region to further aggravate the crisis through their verbal threats to peace and deliberate incitement of a possible breakdown of law and order.
“We maintain that no particular interest in the crisis should be greater than the interest of Rivers State and Nigeria. We therefore expect our law enforcement agencies to act in the protection of lives and properties whenever the need arises.”
The group also commended the President for insisting that all the parties must respect the rule of law
“We equally express our profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restating his commitment to peace and the rule of law over the crisis during a recent meeting with the leadership of PANDEF.
“His fatherly advice to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to implement the Supreme Court Judgement evidently shows his passion and readiness to bring the protracted political crisis to such an amicable end that will serve the overall interest of the people of River State and Nigeria,” it added.
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