Rivers elders to Tinubu: Lift emergency rule, restore democracy after peace deal
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to lift the state of emergency declared in the state, citing progress in the reconciliation process between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, who is also Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt and signed by the Forum’s acting chairman and former Deputy Governor, Gabriel Toby, the group expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating the peace deal and commended both Fubara and Wike for prioritising dialogue over conflict.
“To this end, we request that, since peace and reconciliation have been achieved, it is our considered advice that the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State be lifted, and all suspended democratic structures fully restored,” the statement read.
“The will of Rivers people should be respected, and the institutions of democratic governance must be allowed to function freely and transparently.”
The Forum described the political standoff involving Fubara, Wike, and the state legislature as an unfortunate episode that fractured the state’s unity and disrupted governance.
“We have watched over the past few months the painful divisions and political tensions that pitched two of our sons—Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike and His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara—against each other,” the statement said.
“It was a sad development that wounded the soul of our dear state and cast an undeserved shadow on our collective unity, progress, and prosperity.”
While details of the reconciliation terms have not been made public, the elders expressed confidence that they would respect the 1999 Constitution and adhere to democratic norms. They emphasised that their intervention is purely for peace and not motivated by politics.
“For the record, we reaffirm that our only interest has always been to safeguard the image, soul, and dignity of Rivers State. We seek no personal gain or political reward—only the unity and progress of our state,” Toby stated.
The Forum urged all stakeholders to embrace the reconciliation as a fresh opportunity to rebuild trust and promote stability in the state.
“We urge everyone in Rivers State to seize this moment of reconciliation not as the end of disagreements, but as the beginning of a new chapter—marked by mutual respect, collective responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the peace, progress, and unity of our dear state,” the statement concluded.
