ABUJA – A pro-democracy group, Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy, has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a reconciliation committee within 14 days to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Convener of the group , Dr. Olayemi Isaacs, expressed worrs over the state of emergency, saying it would only lead to a “forced peace” and encourage parties to hide their true intentions.

Therefore, he advocated for reconciliatory steps in a democratic setting to achieve genuine peace.

The Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy demanded that President Tinubu set up a panel of non-partisan eminent Nigerians to mediate between the rival parties in the Rivers State crisis.

They emphasised that the mediatory efforts must be concluded within 60 days, allowing the state of emergency to be lifted within 90 days of its declaration.

According to Dr. Isaacs, genuine peace can only come to Rivers State through reconciliatory steps taken in a truly democratic setting.

The group criticized President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, stating that it validated the ugly practice of corrupt political godfatherism by siding with former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Tinubu’s cabinet.

and possibly jeopardize Nigeria’s democracy.

“Furthermore, the Coalition of Civil Society in Defence of Democracy demands that President Tinubu, within 14 days, set up a panel of non-partisan eminent Nigerians to mediate between the rival parties in the Rivers State crisis.

“The mediatory efforts must be concluded within 60 days so that the state of emergency can be lifted within 90 days of its declaration.

“Finally, we call on political parties to rein in their members in states that have similar political wranglings ongoing so that President Tinubu would not have the excuse to suspend democratic structures in more parts of the country.

“Where political parties fail to heed this counsel, they can be assured that there will not be many states left under democratic rule before the 2027 General Elections, the group stated.

https://independent.ng/rivers-name-reconciliation-committee-within-14-days-group-tasks-tinubu/