NDCSC Warns Of Threat To Democracy And Human Rights Defenders In Rivers State

The Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition(NDCSC) has alerted Nigeria and
the global community to deadly threats to human rights and democracy
defenders in Rivers State.
In a statement in Port Harcourt today, the coalition traced the origin
of the threats to its recent legitimate notice of a One Day Defending
Democracy Rally Against Impunity and Political Violence event.
It said various threats have come through phone calls, direct personal
attacks and publications through the media on the Chair of NDCSC,
Anyakwee Nsirimovu, as well as the prominent Human Rights Defenders
who were invited to address the peaceful gathering following the
political crisis that has engulfed the state.
"The threats have been fronted by faceless so-called militant
groups, letter-headed based sectional organizations and
representatives of the factional Peoples Democratic Party Chapter in
the state, using all manners of threats and blackmail strategies to
stop the rally from holding," the statement said.
The coalition asserted that it will not succumb to the intimidation,
which it described as the hallmark of tyrannical demagogues bent on
sliding democratic progress in the state.
"We nevertheless implore the Community of Democrats to hold these
characters responsible for any untoward act against democrats
gathering in Port Harcourt to speak truth to power," it said, calling
on the global community to see what is happening in Rivers State as a
well-designed affront to minimum standards of civilized behaviour as
represented by known global principles of democracy and human freedom.
NDCSC warned that the day charlatansare allowed to destroy the ideals
and principles of freedom of association, assembly, thought and
expression, will mean the end of democracy, and the reign of anarchy
and chaos.
The coalition called for its alert to be taken most seriously in view
of the state of insecurity in Rivers State and the illicit possession
of the instrument of violence and fear by these elements, questioning
what is left of democracy and respect for human rights in a state
where there are only men and women whose strength lies upon violence
and political killings rather than on principled issues and debate.
"We remind colleagues at both national and international levels that
this democracy has been caged by few violent men and women, and needs
to be saved now," NDCSC said. "The threats facing us are stark and
dreadful and inescapable, if violence is deemed as best practice in a
democracy and supported and tolerated by the highest political
authority."