We Can No Longer Stay Silent – ​​Former Rivers Lawmakers Support Fubara in Rivers Crisis

A group of former Rivers State House of Assembly members have backed Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the ongoing political battle with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

In a statement, the former lawmakers urged political leaders in the state to prioritize peace and respect the rule of law.

The group, which included Senator John Azuta Mbata, Senator Ngoji Denton West and others, said their intervention had become necessary because silence was no longer golden, given the threat to peace and development in the state.

The former lawmakers, who served in the Senate and House of Representatives, commended Governor Sim Fubara’s efforts in promoting peace and development in the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, former House of Representatives member Bernard Mikko read out the group’s statement, rejecting calls for a state of emergency and attempts to flout the constitutional mandates of elected council chairmen.

He said: “Regardless of our political affiliations, we remain united in our unwavering belief and conviction that the unity, peace and progress of Rivers State are paramount and non-negotiable.

“We reaffirm our absolute commitment to the rule of law, the cornerstone of democracy that ensures that no one, including the government, is above the law. We defend this fundamental principle, which guarantees justice, equality and accountability for all.

“We stress that the mandate of local government councils must be respected in accordance with the constitution,” he said.

Mikko added: “We believe that calls for a state of emergency are unjustified and we have full confidence in the government’s ability to respond to the challenges that may arise. We have confidence in its ability to maintain peace and stability in Rivers State.”

Lawmakers said silence was no longer golden.

They said: “We are living at a moment in the life of our beloved state when silence is no longer golden. We cannot, in good conscience, continue to bury our heads in the sand when our hard-won democracy, including the peace and stability of a state that was built on the blood of heroes, is under threat. We are deeply troubled by the anxiety and hysteria that is prevalent in our state.”

“We recognize that the peace and stability of Rivers State, a vital economic hub of our nation, is under threat,” Mikko said.

The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.