The leaders and members of South-South Youths Initiative have accused President Bola Tinubu of being bias in handling of the crisis in Rivers state.
The group made the accusation in a statement while reacting to the declaration of State-of- Emergency in Rivers by the President.
The statement signed by its national president, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, stated that the refusal to suspend Chief Nyesom Wike, who according to them, is the main reason the political crisis has remained unresolved, alongside Gov. Fubara simply shows the president’s bias.
The statement read, “We, the leaders and members of South-South Youths Initiative have expressed our deepest regrets over the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, following the lingering political crisis in the state.
“As the umbrella body for all the youths in the South-South region, we believe that the President would have taken a different measure in resolving the political crisis in the state other than suspending the Democratically elected Executive Arm of the State for six months and appointing a Sole Administrator for the State.
“But, our main worries lie with the very fact that the President did not suspend the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is the main reason the political crisis has remained unresolved. We believe that the President’s refusal to mention Chief Nyesom Wike in the address of his broadcast and his refusal to suspend him alongside simply shows the president’s bias in handling the crisis in the state. It is in public view that the political war is chiefly between, the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike. It also on record that the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly is only playing the script handed them by their master, Wike.
“If this is established, it is simple clear that allowing Wike to continue working when others have been suspended only tells the youths of the region that the President is interested in the peace of one man than the peace and development of Rivers State.
“So, therefore, we call on President Bola Tinubu that in the interest of fairness , equity, Justice fair play to immediately suspend the former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the FCT Minister. This is will clear our doubt that he is fair in his declaration.
“In the same vein, we are calling on the National Assembly to discard this State of Emergency declared in the state. We had as a people prayed that nothing thwarts democracy in this country, even if it is still wobbling.
“In all indication, it is least expected that the president would tow the path that runs against principles of rule of law in a society that is highly acclaimed to be democratic. If this is necessary, what happened to some states in the northern part of the country where Bandits and Boko Haram and other sects are killing and maming people.
“We, however, call for calm as Rivers state passes through this trying time in their history”.
