The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring the democratic structures in Rivers State after six months of emergency rule.

The President of the committee, Debo Adeniran, gave the commendation during an interview in Lagos on Thursday.

Mr Tinubu on March 18 declared six-month state of emergency in Rivers State due to the unhealthy political atmosphere in the state at the time.

Mr Tinubu promised to restore democratic rule if the situation improved after the six months, which he did following a statement issued to that effect on September 17.

 Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd)on Wednesday bowed out as military administrator of Rivers State Mr Tinubu’s decision to lift the emergency rule and reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Mr Adeniran stated that it was commendable that the President was able to have the political will to keep to his words, which further restored the confidence of the people of the state in his leadership.

He said, “It is the most appropriate thing to happen to Rivers State, before now a lot of people had speculated that the state of emergency might be extended. If that had been done, it would have been an overkill because the period when the emergency lasted there had been almost complete peaceful co-existence between people of different opinions in the state. The agitation that led to the demolition of the building of house of assembly was no longer there and the altercation between the political parties and structures were no longer there. So, there had been relative peace everywhere. The end of the state of emergency is a good thing and the time it was brought to a complete end is appropriate.’’ 

Mr Adeniran urged political gladiators in Rivers State to learn from the emergency rule and begin to work for the peace and stability of the state.

He also urged the hitherto disagreeing parties to always resolve their differences amicably to keep the political atmosphere in the state peaceful.

According to him, politicians in other states should learn from the Rivers State experience and not allow political differences to affect public peace.

Mr Adeniran said, “The state of emergency in Rivers State for example would teach other states some hard lessons. This is because they are wrong if they think that during democratic administration a governor cannot be suspended, it has been done and properly done as well.”

He urged politicians to always honour agreements and be upright enough to respect whatever agreements they have with one another.

Mr Adeniran said that he was positive the lifting of the emergency rule would cause political re-birth and catalyse peace and stability in the state. 

(NAN)