The South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI) has slammed the recent reconciliation meeting orchestrated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, concerning the political crisis in Rivers State.
In a statement on Thursday by Imeabe Oscar, national president of the association, the group described the development as a “kangaroo reconciliation” that seeks to reconcile Rivers people without returning the governor to enjoy his constitutional second tenure in peace.
Key Highlights
- SSYI describes Wike’s reconciliation meeting on the Rivers crisis as a “kangaroo reconciliation”.
- The group says the move fails to restore democratic order or the governor’s mandate.
- It recalls that Wike was allowed to complete his eight-year tenure as governor without interruption.
- SSYI insists only Rivers people can take back the governor’s mandate through the ballot.
- The group calls on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene.
“This is nothing but a slap on our democratic process and an insult to the collective sensibility of Rivers people who came out en masse to vote for their governor.
“We wish to ask Nyesom Wike and his co-travellers: What manner of reconciliation is that which does not restore democratic order?
“What manner of peace meeting is that which rewards the aggressor and punishes the mandate of the people?” the group demanded.
‘Nobody Truncated His Government’
The group recalled that when Wike was governor of the state, he was allowed to complete his eight-year tenure despite what it described as the high level of humiliation, hardship and outcry from Rivers people over his style of governance.
“Nobody truncated his government. Nobody declared his seat vacant. Nobody sponsored impeachment against him despite all the public complaints.
“Why then is the same man who enjoyed the grace of completing his two tenures now leading a plot to deny another Rivers son the right to enjoy his own constitutional tenure?” the group wondered.
It described the development as political hypocrisy of the highest order and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
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It maintained that Rivers State is not the personal estate of any man, stressing that the mandate was given to the governor by Rivers people, not by Wike, and that only Rivers people can take it back through the ballot.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly and all well-meaning Nigerians to see the latest move by Wike as a grand plot to undermine democracy in Rivers State and hold the state to ransom.
“We stand with the constitution. We stand with the mandate of Rivers people. We stand for the return of peace through true justice, not through imposed reconciliation. Rivers State must be allowed to be governed in peace,” the group submitted.
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