Steer clear of Rivers crisis, Fasehun warns police

Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria and Founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, has asked militants in the Niger Delta as well as security agencies to steer clear of the political crisis in Rivers State and allow politicians to solve their own problems.
In a press statement issued in Lagos at the weekend, Fasehun also endorsed the resolution of the House of Representatives to take over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, Fasehun insisted that Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, must accord due honour to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, despite their personal differences.
“What you sow you reap,” he said, adding: “Sow respect and you reap respect; sow dishonour and you reap dishonour. Not only the Holy Books, even good home training teaches this and the Governor ought to know.”
Speaking on the move by the House of Representatives to take over the functions of the Rivers State Assembly, Fasehun said it was a creative initiative that would guarantee that the state legislature was not hijacked by either opponents or proponents of Amaechi.
According to him, the show of shame and violence that followed the purported impeachment of the Speaker on the floor of the House of the Rivers State House of Assembly, clearly robbed the legislature of the power to continue in office.
“The House of Representatives could not have folded its arms while the Legislature in one state in the Federation got consumed by crisis,” Fasehun said, warning: “The House of Reps must play a neutral role throughout, and guarantee the quick return of full democracy to this otherwise peaceful state.”
Recalling that police had in 2003 compromised its neutrality in the case of former Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State, Fasehun lamented that history appeared to be repeating itself in Rivers State and it could endanger the nation’s democracy.
The OPC president similarly reacted to reports that Niger-Delta militants and cultists had invaded Rivers State, pursuant to launching an onslaught against interests in the crisis, remarking that it would be a dangerous move.
He said: “Violence can only beget more violence. The intervention of militants will result in a vicious cycle of reprisal attacks. No matter how such a confrontation turns out, it will be a lose-lose situation for the peace-loving people of Rivers State, who stand to pay a heavy price for any breakdown in the society.”
Lamenting that legislators charged with lawmaking resorted to championing a break-down of law and order in Rivers State, the elder statesman said all those involved must be brought to face the full wrath of the law.
“They should have taken their fighting to the streets instead of settling their personal scores in the hallowed chambers of the House,” he said. “The show-of-shame is an embarrassment to Nigerians. It amounts to promoting indiscipline. Legislators must learn to react with dignity to issues easily ironed out through dialogue and compromise.”
According to the OPC founder, the situation in Rivers State justified calls for the convening of a Sovereign National Conference.
He said: “Why should the Governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, be helpless in instructing the Commissioner of Police to enforce law and order, simply because of the break-down in the personal relationship of the two gentlemen?”
However, Fasehun insisted that the security of His Excellency must remain sacrosanct.
He added: “What can be the reason for withdrawing the Governor’s security personnel and unduly exposing him to danger?”