A coalition of Nigerian activists in the United States is set to stage a major protest at the White House, demanding an end to the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State.
Under the umbrella of the Democratic Movement (DM), the activists are calling for the immediate reversal of President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the restoration of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a statement on Thursday, the group’s president, Cosmos Collins Achief, described the move as a “direct attack on democracy and the will of the people.”
“We refuse to stand by while an elected governor is removed, an entire legislature is dissolved, and an unelected administrator is imposed. These are dangerous precedents that undermine Nigeria’s democracy,” Achief stated.
The protest is set to take place in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators marching to the White House and the U.S. Department of State to submit petitions, urging international intervention.
“The world needs to see what is happening in Rivers State. A democratically elected government has been suspended under the guise of emergency rule. We are urging the international community to take action and call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order,” the statement read.
The group also called on global institutions such as the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to intervene, warning that the Nigerian government’s actions could lead to diplomatic fallout.
“The president must realize that this move pushes Nigeria towards dictatorship and could result in international sanctions,” Achief cautioned.
The demonstration is expected to draw widespread support from Nigerians in the diaspora, human rights activists, and pro-democracy groups concerned about governance in Africa’s largest democracy.
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