By: Felix Ikpotor
As the political crisis rocking Rivers State continues unabated, a group, the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts, CORSLOT, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike to call his men to order.
The call followed the ultimatum given by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to represent the state budget before it within seven days.
The ultimatum by Amaewhule followed the Appeal Court ruling which voided the injunction of the Rivers High Court which had earlier barred them from sitting.
Convener of CORSLOT, High Chief Sunnie Chukumele while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt called out Wike for being linked with the crisis in the state and the need for him to initiate the peace process.
The group said Rivers State is strategic to the economy of Nigeria and as such should not be allowed to degenerate into further crisis.
He said: “That the elders, leaders of thoughts and people of conscience in Rivers State hereby calls out our son, the former governor of the state and now Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike that we place the onus of making peace and creating a tranquil political atmosphere in Rivers State on his shoulders.
“That our son, the FCT Minister can be said to be sufficiently linked to the unabating political crisis in his home state, Rivers. The consequence created in our dear state is unacceptable, regrettable, and has consequence of throwing the state into an irredeemable crisis of unimaginable proportion.
“That we call on our son the FCT Minister to once more rein in his henchmen and foot soldiers in the political crisis in the state, particularly the wing of the state legislature loyal to him and as well the immediate past local government chairmen whose activities in the state are becoming felonious”.
While stating that the distraction on the state governor was no longer tolerable, the group said, “Where this call falls on deaf ears, that we on behalf of the entire people of Rivers State, home and abroad sternly call on President Bola Tinubu who our son, Nyesom Wike is serving under in Abuja to call him to order henceforth and that enough should be enough.”
“We call on Mr. President not to sleep on the political imbroglio in Rivers State to dispel the suspicion of conspiracy theory. Mr. President needs the generality of Rivers people , and not one strong man. Rivers State has many strong men, the opinion of elders and leaders of thoughts should guide Mr. President on issues in the state,” CORSLOT added.
The group also advised the Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly to shun the idea of impeaching the governor, stressing that the crisis that would follow their threat can’t be imagined.
“We call on Martin Amaewhule and his colleagues to jettison the idea of impeaching the governor of the state. We advice them that the impact of their threats should only be imagined. We refer them to a Shakespearean play , Julius Caesar. Let Amaewhule and his colleagues not ignite a fire that they can never have the capacity to contain,” the group said.
CORSLOT called on the office of the National Security Adviser to be upbeat about the security situation in the state considering the economic relevance of Rivers State to Nigeria while also advising the Inspector General of Police to direct the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to call his men to remove the barricade placed at all the local government secretariats in the state following the Appeal Court ruling that voided the tenure elongation of the former chairmen.
The group also urged the judiciary to apply extreme wisdom in handling cases emanating from Rivers State following its negative impact on the stability of the state.
It further urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara not go lose focus on delivering on the mandate given to him by the majority of Rivers people.
