TheCable

Tein Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says politicians from Rivers must not allow the current political crisis in the state to escalate. 

In a statement on Wednesday, Jack-Rich said the democracy of any country in the world is jeopardised when the legislature is attacked.

The Rivers house of assembly has been the theatre of chaos in the past few days over a plot to impeach  Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

On Monday, a section of the assembly complex was set ablaze by suspected political thugs as the crisis snowballed out of control.

”In the early hours of Oct. 30, 2023, I received multiple calls and reports of an immense attack and the desecration of Rivers state house of assembly, being the beacon of democracy,” Jack-Rich said in a statement.

”It is important to understand that keeping the temple of our democracy is a sacred oath we all took as political actors, irrespective of class.

”Therefore, any tendency to attack the legislature or hijack it is not for anyone’s security, rather a display of political weakness.

”We cannot afford to sacrifice the peace of the democratic journey on the altar of fear of dictatorship or authoritarianism.

”My appeal is peace, and for Rivers state to be allowed to key into President Bola Tinubu‘s administration at the federal level in order to take advantage of its economic master plan.

”We cannot afford the crisis brewing to snowball into a more chaotic situation, which is capable of exacerbating  huge economic hardship in Rivers state.

”Let all those involved sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and development of our dear Rivers state.”

The former presidential aspirant called on politicians to remain calm and adopt dialogue for peace and development of the state.