The VATLAD said that if the crisis in Rivers State is not urgently contained, it will lead to drastic fall in Nigeria’s foreign revenue earnings from crude oil and gas; instability in supply of petroleum products across the country; continued hike in prices of the petroleum products, and further crash in exchange rate of Nigeria’s Naira to foreign currencies.
A civil society organisation, the Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD), has written to the Chief Justice of Federation (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, calling for an urgent intervention in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, in order to restore peace and security in the state.
The organisation in the letter addressed to the CJN and signed by its National President, Igbini Odafe Emmanuel and the Secretary General, Kelechi Ijeoma, said that the current situation of the political crisis in Rivers State between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, could only be solved by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The VATLAD said that if the crisis in Rivers State is not urgently contained, it will lead to drastic fall in Nigeria’s foreign revenue earnings from crude oil and gas; instability in supply of petroleum products across the country; continued hike in prices of the petroleum products, and further crash in exchange rate of Nigeria’s Naira to foreign currencies.
Part of the letter reads, “It is no doubt that as the situation stands today, only the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Court of Policy and Law and Finality, under your divine leadership, will be able to finally resolve this crisis and restore Peace, Unity and Progress to Rivers State.
“Rivers State is too economically important and strategic for the survival of our beloved Country Nigeria, to be left to drift even for one minute, towards anarchy.
“The consequences of allowing this to happen are: (1) the drastic fall in our Nation's Foreign Revenue Earnings from Crude Oil and Gas, (2) Instability in supply of Petroleum Products across our Country (3) continued hike in prices of the Petroleum Products and (4) further crash in Exchange Rate of our Nation's Naira to foreign currencies.
“From the above that we have listed, it is obvious that the effect of the dire consequences of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State are far beyond the Hon. Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State as many Commentators want the world to believe.
“The over two hundred million Nigerians and Nigeria will be the worst losers.
“It is for this reason that we most respectfully appeal to you to direct the accelerated hearing of the pending suit seeking to resolve the claim and counterclaim to the leadership and membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly following a purported defection of some of the members of the House to another political party.
“A resolution of this matter by the Supreme Court will immediately restore Peace and Security in Rivers State.”