A group, the Nigerians in Diaspora Movement for Democracy, has urged President Bola Tinubu to allow democracy to thrive in the country.
The association made the call while reacting to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In an open letter to Tinubu, the group said the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State and the attendant suspension of democratically elected officials is an example of the erosion of democracy.
Expressing concern over the suspension of the governor, deputy governor and members of the state House of Assembly for six months, the group described the development as a distortion of democracy.
In the letter co-signed by Dr. Samson Idoko and John Onuh, president and secretary general, respectively, the group urged Tinubu to revisit the decision to declare emergency rule in Rivers State.
Instead of emergency rule, the group urged the president to use legislative processes to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State.
It also suggested banning those fanning the political crisis in the state from holding public offices for 10 years.
The group emphasised that if the current situation is not addressed, it could damage Tinubu’s legacy.
“We wish to passionately plead that democracy should be allowed to thrive and seen obviously to be thriving. We do not make this assertion lightly or based on assumption but on factual grounds.
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“There is clear derailment from what you stood and fought for from what is happening today. With what has happened in Rivers State, it is potentially clear that democracy under your presidency is no longer thriving.
“A practice where an elected state governor, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly are suspended for six months does not represent what you stand for and fought so much for.
“Democracy is in a state of asphyxia, losing air, and if nothing is done, it will be suffocated to death.
“If that happens, then the entire efforts of Mr. President, both past and future, will be dented in an ugly history, a crude democratic tragedy. You cannot allow this to happen.
“We therefore wish to call on Mr. President to take a serious and urgent look at the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State to revise the decision, and instead utilize legislative processes to stabilize the situation as well as ensure that there is no reversal of the ugly drift in Rivers State,” the group said.
