The Democracy Watch Network (DWN), on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government and relevant security authorities to take swift action to ensure the restoration of peace and order in Rivers State until the court rules on the lingering political crisis trailing the elongation of the tenure of 23 Local Government Chairmen.
The Group, in a statement signed by its President, Mr Godfrey Titus, strongly condemned Governor Siminalayi Fubara for reportedly deploying armed thugs to harass, intimidate and forcibly remove 23 Local Government Area chairmen from office.
The Group, who described the development as unacceptable and set a dangerous precedent for the erosion of democratic norms in Nigeria, described Fubara’s actions as a brazen assault on democracy, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and a complete breakdown of law and order in the state.
Recall that some youths on Tuesday stormed some local government headquarters to evict elected LG officials and destroy government properties after Governor Fubara’s address.
Mr Titus alleged that Fubara has again shown his knack for violence, adding that the latest incident is a stark reminder of his disregard for human life and democratic principles.
The DWN, therefore, urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to take swift action and ensure the restoration of peace and order in Rivers State until the court rules on the matter.
“The Democracy Watch Network (DWN) vehemently condemns the actions of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who deployed thugs to forcibly remove Local Government Chairmen from office mere hours after their tenure expired,” the statement said.
“This brazen assault on democracy has resulted in the tragic loss of two lives and a complete breakdown of law and order in the state. Governor Fubara’s actions are a gross violation of the rule of law and a blatant disregard for the democratic process.
“The case for tenure elongation for the chairmen is still pending in court, and yet, the governor chose to take the law into his own hands, employing thugs to intimidate and harass elected officials.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of democratic norms in Nigeria. Governor Fubara has a history of violence and tends to go to any length to prove a point to his perceived political opponents. This latest incident is a stark reminder of his disregard for human life and democratic principles.
“The DWN calls on Governor Fubara to immediately reverse his decision, respect the legal process, and allow the chairmen to remain in office until the court reaches a decision.
“We urge the Nigerian government and relevant authorities to take swift action to address this situation, ensure the restoration of peace and order in Rivers State, and hold Governor Fubara accountable for his anti-democratic actions.
“The DWN stands in solidarity with the people of Rivers State and the affected Local Government Chairmen, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely, advocating for the upholding of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.”