The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed concerns over the unfolding political crisis in Rivers state that led to the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor, deputy and state assembly members for an initial period of six months.
In a statement released Friday by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the Forum noted that even though the president “is empowered under Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 to declare a state of emergency on any part of the federation,” it would have been in a state of war or total breakdown of law and order.
The statement read in part, “It is a public knowledge that none of these conditions actually happened in Rivers. The maintenance of peace, public order and corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be the primary concern of each Nigerian. As such any form of disturbance in any part of the country will have serious negative tendency and impact on the whole country.”
The federal government and the president, NEF noted, must find a viable and permanent solution to the political crisis in Rivers.
NEF advised the federal government not to allow the escalation of political disputes in some other states such as Kano, “where at the moment there exists a standoff and tussle in the traditional institution of the Kano Emirate.”
‘The ability to resolve political disputes through negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication is part of democratic maturity while naked and brutal abuse of political power can only pose imminent danger to the democratic processes,” the statement read further.