BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 18, (THEWILL) – An Ijaw group, the Ijaw Justice Forum (IJF), has described the letter, written by a former National Security Chief and elder statesman, Chief Albert Horsfall, condemning Police involvement in Rivers State politics, as a show of statesmanship.
The group therefore urged other prominent sons and daughters of Ijaw nation to speak against acts of impunity which it said are now reducing the once peaceful Niger Delta environment to a hub of violence.
In a statement signed at the weekend by its President, Tom Douglas, the Forum noted that Rivers people were now experiencing a breed of immature politicians working hard to set the state ablaze as reflected by the alleged shooting of a serving Senator and the issue of Soku oil wells, among others.
“Chief Horsfall had in the year 2,000 issued a statement titled ‘Stop this madness’ which was not yielded to, resulting to series of assassinations, arson and inter communal violent clashes orchestrated by mischievous politicians of that time.
“IJF commended the former Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for advising against the repeat of past practices that landed Rivers State in turmoil and bloodshed, insisting that such actions were not good for politics and must stop.
“The Forum praised the former OMPADEC Chairman for enlisting the Police authorities to isolate their personnel from unconstitutional acts by encouraging the maintenance of integrity and impartiality in matters of partisan politics as was the case in the past.
“The body lauded Chief Horsfall for urging President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene amidst fears that soon ordinary citizens of Rivers State and indeed Niger Delta may find it challenging to go about normal businesses,” the group said in the statement.
The statement noted that, if available feelers were anything to act on, the intentions of those behind the political crisis enveloping Rivers State, was to create a sense of insecurity with a view to declaring state of emergency since other means of removing Governor Chibuike Amaechi from office had failed.
It therefore advised politicians in the state to stimulate their political practice through persuasion, rallies and canvassing for votes, rather than involve the Police in ways that would paint the force as an object of public ridicule and sued for peace.
