Rivers State has been known for her

peaceful disposition from time. Her

people are known to be highly sociable and accommodating. Rivers is home to  people from all parts of the world. But that culture appears to be under attack.

For sometime now, an avoidable political conflict has tended to raise fears in the population. Instead of abating, there seems to be a deepening divide and frequent flashes of violent conflicts. In some cases, even the police are accused of bias.

We are troubled by reports of the manhandling of the Chairman and Secretary of Omuma Local Government Area during the inauguration of one of the political organisations in the State. Also, steps taken to stop the inauguration of another political organisation in the Ogoni area, where people were also manhandled is condemnable.

Only a couple of days ago, some persons under the aegis of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) protested and blocked the East/West road. Apart from the disruption of economic activities in that area, ordinary people were denied access and the anger it generated can become action of another day. Just yesterday, effort by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resume sitting literarily threatened the peace of the State. Indeed, the number of youths called out for action tells a rather troublesome story.

Incidentally, all these are traceable to the lingering political crisis in Rivers State. As the crisis spreads and involves more ordinary people, no one can rule out the possible build up of forces that could be used against fellow Rivers people. This must be avoided by all means cost.

Perhaps, it should be restated that politics is purposed for the interest of the people. It should also not be a thing of surprise that politicians, like other human beings would disagree. Even more normal is for them to reconcile quickly to avoid endangering the lives of the people who they want to serve.

If by their actions they make society un-governable or actually cause the death of some electorate, the aim is lost. The political class must begin to look beyond its own interest and do everything to protect the people from harm.

The Tide sees nothing wrong in a person or group of persons moving to another political party. There is also nothing unlawful in mobilising for members at the various local government areas. But everything is wrong in one group stopping the other from doing the same.

Rivers State may have had traditional political friends over the years, but nothing says this cannot change, especially if that friendship does not appear to have met the modest expectations of a cross-section of the people. Indeed, change is the only permanent thing, they say.

We think that the time has come for the fathers of the state to intervene in the on-going crisis with a view to averting physical clashes. This is more so because even the police expected to keep the peace are rightly or wrongly accused of bias.

At a time when it is expected that Rivers State would use all it has to develop the lots of her people, we should not allow the prevailing bread and butter politics to endanger the lives of our people, property and communities. If this age reduces politics to crude fights, there will be no need for elections.

The growing political intolerance in Rivers State has gone on for too long and cannot be supported. As a people under one destiny, no disagreement should be allowed to divide the people to the extent violence is becoming possible.

No matter the level of accusation, the police and indeed the security community must swing into action and nip in the bud any clash in Rivers State. They must call to order anyone that tries to incite people in any form or guise. Rivers State is greater than the things that may have caused the political face-off and any step required to keep the peace must not be spared.