Protest: Rivers crisis splits civil society

… as S’South PDP c’ttee condemns crisis PORT HARCOURT—SOME rights groups in Rivers State have said that the crisis rocking Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the state was the result of selfish politics of all the parties involved. They, therefore, dissociated themselves from today’s planned mass rally in Port Harcourt by civil society organisations calling for the removal of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, over the crisis. In a statement, yesterday, the organisations noted that the protest was needless because it would not benefit the ordinary Rivers people, but rather tends to glorify the factions of the party, none of which they perceive as being involved in the crisis for public good. The civil organisations include Rivers chapters of Civil Liberties Organistion, CLO; Social Action, Oil Watch Africa; Centre for Environment and Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, Students Environmental Assembly and Social Workers Movement, among others. The statement said: “The political actors fighting among themselves, no matter the camp they belong, have never had the interest of the toiling masses at heart. “They oppress the masses whenever they deem it profitable for their class interests and fight themselves when their fractional interest clashes.” S’South PDP c’ttee condemns crisis South-South Zonal Working Committee, ZWC, of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, called on the warring factions in the rivers crisis to put the interest of state above other considerations. A statement at the end of its meeting in Asaba, Delta State, condemned the breakdown of law and order perpetrated by the state lawmakers. Dr. Steven Oru, PDP South-South Chairman said no effort would be spared in the resolution of the crisis rocking Rivers House of Assembly, adding that the zonal committee would soon embark on consultation with stakeholders for the restoration of peace in Rivers. Oru said the stakeholders would visits top PDP functionaries from the zone and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chief Edwin Clark, among others. It passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan for his transformation agenda, stabilisation of the national economy, enhanced security of lives and property.