The Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts expressed strong reservations regarding certain clauses within the presidential peace proclamation addressing the state’s political crisis. They criticized these clauses, deeming them a form of undue pressure on an elected governor.
They condemned the proclaimed agreement as a severe blow to democratic governance, asserting that it overlooked fundamental constitutional, judicial, and legal concerns regarding the legislators who had switched parties.
Sunnie Chukumele, the Convener of CORSLOTS, conveyed these concerns during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday. Alongside Chukumele, other coalition members including Prof Blessing Didia, Chief Tammy Datoru, Hajia Miriam Batubo, C.D Samuel, Wing Commander Michael Akumute (retd.), Linda Douglas Wibani, Chief Odinakachukwu Osundu, Dr Parry Benson, Alalibo Fredricks, Chief Timothy Ntedeng, among others, emphasized that the peace deal failed to address the core issues at play.
The group specifically highlighted problematic clauses, notably clauses 5 and 7, labeling them as objectionable. Clause 5, they argued, allowed state lawmakers to convene anywhere, potentially even in a beer parlor, to legislate, which they found unacceptable.
Furthermore, Clause 6 was deemed a governance anomaly, exhibiting extreme executive weakness and imprudence, while Clause 7 was criticized for implying that only those who willingly resigned from their positions were fit for the State Executive Council, which they saw as a mockery.
The coalition, while acknowledging the withdrawal of pending court actions by both sides as part of the Peace Accord’s implementation, commended the governor’s commitment to the peace process, especially his Christmas Day visit to his predecessor, Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, as a step toward fostering genuine peace founded on mutual respect and affection.
However, they strongly opposed the injection of sectional and ethnic undertones into the state’s political conflict, urging that the issue be recognized solely as a Rivers State problem, requiring resolution by the state’s populace.
