A coalition of civil rights groups has declared their intention to embark on a peaceful rally next Tuesday in Port Harcourt to kick against the ongoing “impunity in Rivers.”
The coalition under the umbrella of the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC), said that if nothing serious was done to put a stop to the crisis rocking the state, it would work against democracy.
The police banned protests in Rivers after former Niger Delta militants had marched on major streets of Port Harcourt demanding the removal of the state Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi.
The police have been accused of being partisan in the crisis rocking the state, which has led to calls for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, who placed the ban order
The coalition’s chairman, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, who spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt disclosed that the coalition had informed activists like Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Joe Okei-Odumakin among others.
“We wish to restore confidence in the peoples of the state to the effect that there is still a government, rule of law and order in the state, and stop the degeneration that could quickly lead to self help, if the ensuing culture of silence persists, and few demagogues continue to believe that without them, there will be no government nor state.
“We have watched with interest the realignments of most corrupt and deficit political past leaders, who principally sowed the seeds of crisis in the state attempt to confuse the peoples of their newly found democratic credentials.
“Impunity as blatantly displayed in the state and tolerated, aided and abated without pretence by the highest political leadership in the country for selfish political reasons, can only be tolerated at the expense of losing this democracy, and allow demagogues to enthrone tyranny which is not in the majority interest of Rivers men and women.
“NDCSC have therefore, decided and agreed to serve notice to the enemies of democracy and human freedom, whoever they may be that peace is an invaluable asset to our collective survival and cannot be sacrificed in the alter of inordinate political ambition of men and women who in their political life and primitive accumulation that have thus far illicitly accrued to them, have never bothered about the livelihood of their fellow citizens.
“They have given stone for bread, political violence for electoral participation, corruption for service delivery, impunity for justice and delivery of services, abject poverty for development and growth and insecurity for human security.
“WE therefore will embark on a One Day of Global Action in defence of democracy in Rivers state. It is a day of action against impunity and tolerance of the same by a political party that has been unable to organize itself and govern most responsibly in the last 14 years of the transition.
“It is a day of action for a wake up call for all Rivers citizens to wake up to their responsibilities of taking their rights and freedoms seriously, by raising their voices for peace, respect for democratic principles of dialogue, persuasion, rather than gangsterism as acceptable means.
“It is a day of action against politically instigated violence against the people. It is a day of action against a Political Police Commissioner who must leave, so that the state may be secured. It is a Civil Society Super Tuesday of action for the deepening of democracy in Rivers state, Niger Delta region and Nigeria.”
