By Adekunle Williams
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring the democratic structures in Rivers, after six months of emergency rule .
The President of the committee, Mr Debo Adeniran, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
NAN recalls that Tinubu had on March 18, declared six months state of emergency in Rivers due to the unhealthy political atmosphere in the state at the time.
Tinubu had promised to restore democratic rule if the situation improved after the six months, which he did following a statement issued to that effect on Sept. 17.
NAN reports that retired Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas on Wednesday bowed out as Administrator of Rivers, following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the emergency rule and reinstatement of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
Adeniran said it was commendable that the President was able to have the political will to keep to his words, which had further restored the confidence of the people of the state in his leadership.
“It is the most appropriate thing to happen to Rivers State, before now a lot of people had speculated that the state of emergency might be extended.
“If that had been done, it would have been an overkill because the period when the emergency lasted there had been almost complete peaceful co-existence between people of different opinions in the state.
“The agitation that led to the demolition of the building of house of assembly was no longer there and the altercation between the political parties and structures were no longer there.
“So there had been relative peace everywhere.Tbe end of the state of emergency is a good thing and the time it was brought to a complete end is appropriate,” he said.
Adeniran urged political gladiators in Rivers to learn from the emergency rule and begin to work for the peace and stability of the state.
He also urged the hitherto disagreeing parties to always resolve their differences amicably to keep the political atmosphere in the state peaceful.
According him, politicians in other states should learn from the Rivers experience and not allow political differences to affect public peace.
Adeniran said: “The state of emergency in Rivers for example would teach other states some hard lessons.
“This is because they are wrong if they think that during democratic administration a governor cannot be suspended, it has been done and properly done as well.”
He urged politicians to always honour agreements and be upright enough to respect whatever agreements they have with one another.
Adeniran said he was positive the lifting of the emergency rule would cause political re-birth and catalyse peace and stability in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)