I don't know if these people take Nigerians for a fool. This petition was written to UN since May. Long before the assembly shame.
Jonathan vs Amaechi: US Group Petitions United Nations on Rivers State Crises
Monday, 20 May 2013
By Yahaya Etila
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland.
Attention: Navi Pillay
Your Excellency
SAVE DEMOCRACY IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.
On behalf of Centre for Advancement of Justice and Peace in Emerging Democracies (ICJAPED), we wish to draw your kind attention to certain recent reports in the Nigerian media on some horrid and disturbing political activities in an area known as Rivers State which is situate in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Presently, documented accounts from vast Nigerian based media outfits show a worrying pattern of intimidation, threats, persecution and other abuses, resulting in deaths, harassment and unjustifiable arrests.
As we write this letter, three brave Nigerian women from Rivers State are on their 6th day of “Indefinite Fast for Rivers State" in front of a church in PortHarcourt,the state capital of the oil rich state. Their commitment to stay on this fast started on May 14 2013 when Mr. Eric Ezenekwe, one of the aides of the ousted chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party , Chief Godspower Ake, was assassinated in his home. Their action is to draw attention to a critical situation prevailing inside Rivers State of Nigeria today.
For emphasis, the past three weeks has portrayed Rivers State as being in a season of societal lunacy and political deadlock with very embarrassing actions meted on the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Ameachi, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Political office holders and other officials of government. These actions are considered highly repressive and against the tenets of a true democracy.
As a major Civil Society group, we resolutely and explicitly condemn the repressive actions and characters behind the Rivers state situation as we believe that the present political deadlock in the State is already having devastating effect on many things including business to social order. Also, we strongly believe that unless this deadlock is broken, Rivers State may witness serious breakdown of law and order, with a high probability of being another centre for violent crimes which may be worse than the present Boko Haram terrorist activities in some Northern states of Nigeria.
We therefore feel constrained to draw the attention of International Community to these despotic acts that are occurring in Rivers State which sadly have been largely associated with the leadership of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We believe that the magnitude of the repression on the people of Rivers state is by itself a message of sorts as they obviously present an accurate picture of militarized democracy. Therefore, constituting serious threats to national security especially in a country like Nigeria that ought to be a just society.
With the situation in Rivers state especially with the on-going political bickering emanating from the ruling PDP party, new questions have emerged regarding the future of Nigeria’s democracy and it is our sincere wish to throw light on the following vital but disturbing areas which are largely associated with the antecedents of the on going crisis.
The alleged altercation between President Goodluck Jonathan, the Commander in Chief and elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governor Chibuike Ameachi, the Governor of Rivers State began late last year following rumours that Governor Ameachi would be seeking a higher political position. This, even though regarded as mere speculation, did not go down well with Presidency because ever since then, the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Ameachi has no doubt witnessed a series of embarrassing castigations from mostly those loyal or sycophantic to the Presidency. The list of increasing political repressions visited on Governor Ameachi in the past four months as recorded in the media are not exhaustive. Interestingly, both men share many similarities, while Mr. President is the National Party Leader of the ruling PDP Party, Governor Ameachi is the Rivers State Leader of the same party and both men are from the same geographical area known as South-South, one of the six regions of Nigeria. Apart from both powerful men in the crisis coming from two neighbouring states of Bayelsa and Rivers, both of them were at a time from the same state before Bayelsa was carved out of Rivers state on October 1st 1996. Unfortunately, today their good relationship has taken a nose dive with adverse political and socio economic consequences which transcends beyond their region.
Another reason for the standoff between President Goodluck Jonathan, and Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is the purported interest of Governor Chibuike Ameachi’ in seeking reelection as the Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, an association of all thirty six State governors from divergent political parties in Nigeria. The Governors’ Forum within its short term of existence is known to have been able to accomplish huge success especially in putting in check the excesses of President Goodluck Jonathan particularly on initiatives that are considered unacceptable because of their perceived peculiar nature of being anti people and anti progressive for the overall development of the Nigerian nation by the Governors’ Forum. Specifically, under Governor Chibuike Ameachi as the Chair of the Governor’s Forum, the group is widely acknowledged to have largely grown in stature, relevance and political influence. The obvious fact is that with the existence of the Governor’s Forum, the State Governors are having increasing say on how the wealth of the Nation is being managed especially revenue from excess crude oil earnings and additional financial recourses arising from the Nation’s new policy on oil subsidy removal. This development has led to some squabbles between the Governors’ Forum and the Presidency. A clear instance is the refusal of the Governor’s Forum to embrace the President’s initiative newly created project called Sovereign Nation Wealth Trust Fund. The Trust Fund purportedly designed to be an obligatory savings programme for the Federal Government through compulsory deduction of revenue due to the States. The general insinuation now is that President Goodluck Jonathan is interested in removing Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the Chairman of the Governors Forum by thwarting his chances of being re elected as Chairman in the forthcoming election which holds this week because the said Governor Ameachi opposed the President’s intention to save money for the 2015 elections under the guise of Sovereign National Wealth Trust Fund.
Our Position
The United Nations, world leaders, governments and the international community have a responsibility to prevent the political crisis from metastasizing and spiraling out of control and causing further casualties.
Indifference and staying silent in the face of tragedy is criminal. Rivers State is a perfect example of a major tragedy occurring in front of our eyes with no one taking action. History will judge what actions you take or fail to take on this issue at this time. It might take immense global pressure to stop the Federal Government and its agents but it has to be done. You will have failed as a leader and defender of peace and security if you don't “...take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law…”Article One UN Charter.
We believe that when a criticism is focused and objective, a government must draw knowledge. If it is true that Governor Ameachi’s led Governors Forum objected to the method of funding the Sovereign Nation Wealth Trust Fund but if this is the reason for the on going political repression on Governor Amaechi by the Nigerian leadership, then, it must be recorded as oppressive especially in a country where majority of the states are suffering from infrastructural inadequacy and their army of qualified graduates can only find jobs as telephone recharge cards sellers as a result of insufficient financial resources.
In respect of the upcoming election of the Chairman of the Governors Forum and the allegations on the President we believe that hat President Goodluck Jonathan is exerting absolute power by allegedly directing the Nation’s crime fighting agency, Economic crime fighting Commission aka EFCC to intimidate any member of the Governor’s Forum that does not vote against Governor Ameachi in the Governor’s forum Chairmanship election. On this, we strongly believe that in a democratic free society, people should be allowed to vote according to their conscience and freely. Not necessarily as they are instructed by the President because they are under a seeming oath of loyalty or fear of the EFCC. Indeed, these acts provide solid grounds for the public outcry about the future of Nigeria’s democracy. Indeed, we believe that so long as democracy promises freedom of expression and association, the Nigerian Government should not translate its 2015 elections challenges into intimidation by seeking unnecessary battles with a State Governor that was also duly elected. If really the President is concerned about his political survival, we believe he also has to be concerned about the survival of democracy and the development of the states in Nigeria which is closer to the people at the grassroots.
The present anarchy in River State is sufficient to drive away foreign investors in the oil rich region. This is certainly not an appropriate period for trouble and we consider all those causing these disturbances as the real enemies of Nigeria’s democracy and development. Indeed, it is very unfortunate that these things are happening at a time when relative peace has been restored in Rivers State after many years of a beehive of criminal activities including militancy and kidnapping of foreign Nationals all in the name of agitation for resource control.
Furthermore, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the Nigerian government and its agents in carrying out activities detrimental to the unity and democracy of Nigeria, especially given that the present Rivers State situation clearly reveals not just multiple serious incidents of repression in a democracy, but a crackdown on free speech akin to a system that is designed to control its citizens beyond what can be considered a just society.
Consequently, to the above stated, we also seek the immediate intervention of the International community to investigate the above stated issues and call to order all erring persons for the preservation of Nigerian people, sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and restoration of order.
While it may be too early to indict the president on all the allegations stated above without a proper investigation, the situation on ground suggests that the President’s silence is akin to a man stepping on a landmine and the situation in Rivers State if allowed to deteriorate further may spell danger for the Nigerian nation as no country can afford to have a replication of the Boko Haram activities in two of its major regions
We therefore conclude that the present political tension is unnecessary and highly resolvable if all parties to the crisis can abide by known and tested democratic practiced. Consequently, we strongly recommend a proper conflict resolution mechanism that will require all parties to crisis to sheath their swords and formulate fresh strategies for their political survival. Indeed, this help avoid the present ugly situation from escalating into a different dangerous dimension that will not only negatively affect the lives and progress of the people of Nigeria but have diverse unpleasant implications on the many foreign interests present in Nigeria. The lessons of Nigeria’s chequered history should sufficiently serve to guide its future.
We sincerely Count on your quick mediation.
Signed:
Dr. Stephen Briggs
Co-ordinator of African Region.
Chike Nwokobia
Secretary General
CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF JUSTICE AND PEACE IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES
Mailing address: P.O. Box 240033 Huntsville, AL 35813, USA Street address: 19 Interpro Road Madison, AL 35757, USA.
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