The Socialist Workers League (SWL) has strongly condemned the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for its immediate reversal.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by National Chairperson Jamiu Towolawi and National Secretary Amara Nwosu, the organisation described the move as “the imposition of martial law, by any name otherwise called,” highlighting that it includes the suspension of elected public officials, including the governor and legislators.
The SWL asserted that neither Governor Similaya Fubara nor Minister Nyesom Wike, who controls the legislature via proxy, represents the interests of the working-class people and youth in Rivers State.
According to the statement, both politicians are primarily concerned with “controlling the resources of the oil-rich state,” while President Tinubu’s support for Wike is driven by “appreciation of the contrived victory of the APC in the presidential elections in the state in 2023”
and strategic political interests for 2027.
The organisation expressed concern over the impact of the crisis on the people, emphasising that “resources that might have been expended on providing public education and healthcare for the masses were used for the fight between the two fractions of the ruling class in Rivers state.”
Declaring “Enough is enough!”, the SWL pointed to the widespread opposition from Nigerians and civil society organisations, including trade unions, against what it termed “this coup of a declaration of state of emergency.”
It also criticised the National Assembly, describing it as “a rubber stamp of the power-drunk executive arm of government,” asserting that the people can place no faith in either the legislature or the presidency.
Conclusively, the SWL called on the people of Rivers State to “take their fate in their hands” and urged the working class and their organisations to move beyond condemnation. “We must stand
up together, mobilise and organise to force the government to reverse this anti-democratic action,”
the statement read.
See the full statement below:
No To Militarisation: Reverse State of Emergency in Rivers State
Socialist Workers League condemns the state of emergency which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has imposed on Rivers State. And we call for its immediate and unequivocal reversal.
A state of emergency is imposition of martial law, by any name otherwise called, especially as it is accompanied with the suspension of elected public officials, including the governor and legislators.
None of the sides in the conflict in Rivers state over the last two years represent the working-class people and youth in the state. Both Governor Similaya Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike, who
operated via proxy through the legislature, are interested in controlling the resources of the oil-rich state. And President Bola Tinubu has thrown his support behind Wike is not only in appreciation of the contrived victory of the APC in the presidential elections in the state in 2023, but also because of the role the president wants him to play again in 2027.
But people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake in all of these. Resources that might have been expended on providing public education and healthcare for the masses were used for the fight between the two fractions of the ruling class in Rivers state.
Enough is enough! Many Nigerians and organisations of the people, such as trade unions, have spoken vehemently against this coup of a declaration of state of emergency.
The National Assembly, on the other hand has shown itself to be a rubber stamp of the power drunk executive arm of government. We can have no faith in them, just as we can have no faith in the presidency.
The people of Rivers state must take their fate in their hands. Working-class people and their organisations have to go beyond merely condemning the state of emergency.
We must stand up together, mobilise and organise to force the government to reverse this anti-democratic action.
Sgd.
Jamiu TOWOLAWI, National Chairperson
Sgd.
Amara NWOSU
National Secretary
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