A non- governmental youth advocacy group in the Niger Delta region, the United Brothers’ of Opobo Kingdom(UBOK), has petitioned the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) and the United Nations General Assembly, among other government agencies, calling for urgent intervention over what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s ploys to undermine democracy in the country, following his recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The group warned that if ECOWAS, UN, and other stakeholders failed to wade into the issue, the situation could escalate into a major crisis, potentially leading to large-scale displacement of people and instability in West Africa.
In the petition addressed to ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray and the authorities of the United Nations General Assembly, among other agencies of government, UBOK expressed worry over the recent declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, among other stakeholders.
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The petition jointly signed by its Chairman, Godswill Jaja, the Secretary, Daniel Finebone and the Public Relations Officer, Joseph Pepple respectively, the group also addressed the petition to the High Commissioners of Cabo Verde, Benin, Ivory Coast, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra- Leone and Togo.
The group argued that the president’s action in Rivers State was unconstitutional and, if not properly addressed, would set a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria and the broader West African region.
“This has implications for how the West African sub-region will fare in the future.
“We hereby called on the UN, ECOWAS and other stakeholders, including, the judiciary to compel President Bola Tinubu to urgently reverse the proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State, and re-instate the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, to enable them resume duties unconditionally”, UBOK declared.
Meanwhile, the United Brothers of Opobo Kingdom(UBOK), has admonished Rivers people to rally support for the Governor and his team to actualize the mandate effectively given to him on March 18, 2023, governorship polls in the state for better development results in the years ahead.
It assured Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his team of their undiluted loyalty and support to his administration for more democratic dividends to the people of the state
