Rivers Elders Forum made up of former governors, deputy governors, former senators and military chiefs from Rivers State have rejected the recent agreement initiated by President Bola Tinubu to bring about a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State.
The elders’ forum in a letter they addressed to the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, urged him to repudiate the agreement tagged Presidential Peace Proclamation because it was unconstitutional, unlawful and against the greater interest of the state.
The position of the elders was reached after a meeting convened in Port Harcourt to review the Presidential Peace Proclamation that was signed by the governor, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Vice -President and the National Security Adviser.
The letter was signed by former Rivers State Governor, Chief Rufus Ada George, former Deputy Governor, Chief Gabriel Toby, former Cross River State Governor, Capt. Ibim Princewill, a former Member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, Rear Admiral O.P. Fingesi, professor emeritus, Dagogo Fubara, Ms. Annkio Briggs and Chief Anams Sara-Igbe.
Others are: Senators Bennet Birabi, Wilson Ake and Andrew Uchendu. The signatories also included King NLA Iraron, Prof. A.W. Obianime, Prof. Bristol Alagbariya, Chief Marcus Atata, Dr. Kalada Iruenabere, King N.O. Nyenke and Captain. Nwankwo.
The elders noted the humility displayed by the governor in his Christmas broadcast in which he admitted that the Presidential Peace Proclamation was not as bad as those opposed to it had tried to make it look. But they said the people of Rivers State do not see any peace in that proclamation.
They said, “Peace can only be practised in a germane, truthful and just society. In this case, the environment in which the peace was brokered showed no sensitivity to the people’s security, political and social interest.”
They therefore rejected the proclamation and said, “We state that you do not place too much premium on the assurances of detractors; rather, be be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria you swore to uphold.
“The Forum believes that there could be peace in Port Harcourt and indeed the entire Rivers State if only Your Excellency would be circumspect in your actions, measured in yiur engagements, and have a critical mind in your review of events.
“Therefore, Your Excellency, you have no Constitutional or other legal power to implement the ‘Presidential Peace Proclamation.'”
