By Jude Opara
The leadership of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate steps to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the ongoing political tensions in Rivers, Osun, and Lagos states could spiral out of control.
In a statement released yesterday, in Taraba State, ZLP National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, disclosed that the party recently convened an emergency meeting to address what he described as “anti-democratic developments” in the aforementioned states.
“We at ZLP sincerely bemoan the ugly and anti-democracy music booming in Rivers, Osun, and Lagos states. We call on President Tinubu to halt this disturbing trend, especially since it is allegedly coming from his political associates,” Nwanyanwu stated.
The party further cautioned against a repeat of past political crises, drawing parallels to the violent unrest of the “Wild Wild West” era in the Southwest and the resurgence of militant activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Focusing on the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, Nwanyanwu questioned the legality of 27 state lawmakers who defected from their party without any formal division at the national level.
He highlighted that these legislators had initially sworn affidavits confirming their defection, only to later attempt to withdraw them.
“Even an unborn child can attest to the defection. There are public announcements, video recordings, and even a reception organized by their new party,” he said.
The ZLP also condemned the withholding of funds and other political maneuvers exacerbating the crisis, warning that unchecked political privilege poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Reflecting on the country’s pro-democracy struggles in the 1990s, Nwanyanwu reminded President Tinubu of their shared history in the fight for democratic governance, emphasizing that many of today’s political players were absent during that era.
The party urged Tinubu to intervene swiftly, stressing that Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile. It warned that if Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State were impeached under questionable circumstances, it could trigger unrest, potentially leading to economic disruptions, including threats to oil production.
“This is how the Wild Wild West crisis started,” ZLP cautioned.
“Imagine the unintended consequences, including disruptions to oil flow, if this situation is not handled with care.”
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