The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has strongly rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The move, which suspends two arms of government and appoints a military sole administrator, has been described as an assault on democracy and a grave rupturing of democratic principles, the rule of law, and the expressed will of the people.
According to Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, the president’s statement is “disturbing, one-sided, and unconvincing.”
Bassey emphasized that declaring a state of emergency worsens the situation, and a return of military rule in any part of the Niger Delta is an egregious assault on the psyche of traumatized people.
The Niger Delta has been one of the most militarized regions in the country, with a history of military rule marked by bloodletting and environmental genocide.
The use of military might to underscore the government’s prioritization of crude oil over environmental and human health is deeply objectionable.
HOMEF raised concerns about the premise that the state of emergency became necessary due to threats to oil pipelines.
The organization argues that governors are not the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and that decrepit oil facilities have been blowing up without third-party interference, suggesting that incidents in the oil fields are not necessarily acts of sabotage.
The organization objects to any attempts to expand oil drilling operations in the Niger Delta using military force or cover, citing the ecological harms in the region that have reduced lives to a mere whisper.
HOMEF also condemns the secretive divestment processes conducted without transparency or accountability.
In conclusion, HOMEF demands the immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State and respect for the rule of law and the Constitutional order. The organization calls for strict adherence to the rule books regarding any resource extraction or divestment decisions and responsible actions that do not undermine democratic institutions.
