Forum Wants First Lady’s Intervention In Rivers Crisis

The Forum of elected  Female Local  Government Executives and Legislators in Rivers State has called on the first lady and wife of the President of Nigeria, Dame Patience  Jonathan to intervene in the  political crisis rocking Rivers State bring  lasting peace to the state.

The point was made in Port Harcourt, yesterday during a press briefing by the forum.

Addressing the press, leader of the Forum Hon Mauren Tamuno, said Rivers women were very much concerned about the  crisis  which has “adversely affected our economic  activities,  jeopardized the existing peace and security in the state and threaning to truncate our hard earned nascent democracy”.

Tamuno  who is also the executive  chairman of Ogu Bolo Local Government  Area, pointed out that Rivers women mobilized support for the massive electoral victory recorded for the president in Rivers State during  the 2011 general elections, and called on the first lady to remain the seed sown and help in resolving the crisis in the state.

The forum demanded the immediate transfer of the Rivers State Commissioner  of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, as resolved  by the National Assembly, and condemned  the handling of the House Leader, Hon Chidi Llloyd  by the police.

The forum also condemned a statement credited to the Chief Edwin Clark-led  Elders forum of the south-south  Region, criticizing Governor Amaechi’s administration, and noted that the views are at variance with the wishes of the people of the region.

While pledging the unflinching support to the Rivers State Governor, the forum advice women in Rivers State not to be seen as pawns to achieve illegal   political ends in the state, and urged youths not to be used to caused mayhem in the state.

The body also cautioned  against “the  growing culture of political  impunity exhibited of anti-democratic elements in their desperation to  destabilise  the Governor Amaechi-led Government,” and stated that politics should be seen as a platform to offer service to the people.

The forum also decried the unhealthy political bickering for 2015, which  it said has thrown decorum and caution to the  wind, and called on the gladiators to exercise  restraint, while  urging the people to vote  according to their conscience in 2015. The forum comprise of all elected female  councilors, vice chairman, and  female leaders of local government legislative Assembly in Rivers State.