A
militant group, Ijaw Freedom Fighters (IFF), and a non-governmental
organisation, Ijaw People’s Development Initiatives (IPDI), yesterday, warned
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana
(SAN), to steer clear of Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Several
civil rights groups have scheduled a rally for that day in the city to protest
against what they see as repeated assaults on democracy in the state by some
people.
IFF and
IPDI said they cannot guarantee the safety of Soyinka, Falana and other non
Niger Deltans if they decide to participate in the protest.
The two
groups described the position of the civil rights groups on the Rivers crisis
as vexatious.
IFF
leader, Sese Gideon, said his group “will not allow non-Niger Deltans to add
insult in a matter that can be settled without bloodshed.”
Gideon,
in a statement, entitled ‘We will not take your coming to Rivers kindly’ said:
“We are a group of youths along the creeks, waterways and uplands of the states
in the Niger Delta region. We are committed to the protection of rights,
privileges and freedom of the Niger Delta people.
“We met
and observed with interest the continued frivolous and vexatious statements
credited to perceived egg heads and civil activists like Wole Soyinka, Femi
Falana and many others on the current crisis rocking the Rivers State House of
Assembly.
“While
we blame the political class in Rivers and Abuja for allowing such comments due
to their indiscretion and show of shame, we will not allow non-Niger Deltans to
add insult in a matter that can be settled without bloodshed. We have listened
to the name-calling and tongue-lashing of the President and his wife by the
civil society but what we will not take kindly to is the invasion being planned
by the non-Niger Deltans in Rivers State.
“If the
people of Rivers want to protest, they should protest and demand for what is
right.
But when it is shown, as clearly displayed, that it is targeted to
ridicule and further discredit the South-South and its quest for Presidency in
2015, we cannot guarantee anyone’s safety again. We are not interested in who
impeached whom but we will not fold our hands and allow the sponsored onslaught
in the Niger Delta under the guise of civil society gathering.
“We
cannot guarantee the safety of anyone interested and plotting to throw Rivers
or any other Niger Delta States into turmoil”.
The
IPDI leader, Austin Ozobo, called the planned protest “ill timed” and
“ridiculous”.
He said
his group has met with over 50 civil society groups in Warri, Delta State and
appealed to the people Rivers State to shun the protest to avert further
bloodshed.
“We
urge the police and other security agencies in the state to endeavour to put
off the protest to avoid rival group clash and stop planned further cause of
disaffection in the state.
“The
crisis in Rivers State is a minor issue that does not need external solution as
warring leaders could resolve their differences if they mean well for Rivers.”
They
warn external forces interference as such will add fire to the situation at
hand. We are a body of civil activists in the six states of the Niger Delta and
were never part of any planned protest in Rivers State.”
Professor
Soyinka and Mr. Falana had condemned the Presidency, the First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan, the state Police Command and the five anti-Amaechi members
of the State Assembly for their roles in fuelling the crisis in the state.
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