By Kolawole Ojebisi
Some Rivers State political leaders and elders have thrown their weights behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara following his insistence on conducting local government elections in all the wards in the state.
These leaders commended Fubara for what they described as his doggedness and boldness in the face of fierce opposition from certain quarters in the state.
Showering prayers on the governor, the leaders stressed that he is on the right path as the constitutionally recognized number one citizen of the state.
The political elders also assured Fubara of their unalloyed support in ” his decision to take steps that will culminate in delivering democratic dividends to Rivers people, despite distractions intended to slow down his pace.”
The Rivers political leaders and elders made their position known when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi, and sent to newsmen.
The leaders include former Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia; former deputy governor of the State, Tele Ikuru; Senator Lee Maeba; former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara; former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo; and former Peoples Democratic Party, Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Omehia, said: “We are leaders and elders of this great state, Rivers State. We are here to encourage the Governor of the State, who is also the leader, as of right, for what he has done and put in place for the conduct of the local government elections coming up tomorrow, Saturday, 5th October 2024. Thank God for who he is and what he has been doing for the people of Rivers State.
“We ask him that despite every other effort trying to slow down his pace, God only will give him the courage to continue.”
Omehia noted that the election is the exercise of the fundamental right of the people, saying the Supreme Court ruling has bestowed on Fubara, like his counterparts in other states, the responsibility to conduct the local government election.
Speaking further on behalf of the leaders, Omehia urged Rivers people, including those living and doing business in the State, to participate in the polls and exercise their civil rights.
He said: “Election is the exercise of the fundamental right of the people and every person in Rivers State has the right to go and vote and express his or her right.
“The court, especially the Supreme Court decision empowered him, like any other governor in Nigeria, to conduct the local government election and the local government election is local. It is the responsibility of the state Governor and the responsibility of all other well-meaning people of Rivers State to conduct this election.
“We are asking that every indigene of Rivers State and all those who live and do business in Rivers State should come out in their large numbers tomorrow in full support of democracy and vote for the success of the local government election.”
The former governor, said those who do not want peace in the state and want the local government election postponed, are the real enemies of the state and should be publicly declared as such.
He emphasised the need for the State to be allowed to grow in unity so that the love that had existed among the people since the creation of the state would continue to flourish as it will be the delight of past leaders of the state to see that peace, unity and development continue to thrive in the state.
He emphasised: “Those who don’t want peace in Rivers State are those who should be declared the enemies of Rivers State. Those who want the election to be postponed tomorrow are declared enemies of Rivers State.
“Rivers State must grow, the unity and love since Rivers State was created in 1967, we are interested in exercising the democratic principles, we have always had peace. And it will be the happiness of all those, Alfred Diette-Spiff, Rufus Ada-George, Dr Peter Odili and all of us who have managed the affairs of this State to see that peace, unity and further development continue to grow in Rivers State.
“If any person thinks otherwise, those people are the enemies of Rivers State,” he declared.
Residents of Rivers State have been living under a tense atmosphere for some time now following the battle for supremacy between the incumbent governor, Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike, who now holds a post in an All Progressives Congress’ government, (APC) has refused to officially defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
The former governor appears determined to retain the party structure at the state level and has the whip hand.
Fubara, his successor who by virtue of his position ought to be the political leader in Rivers State, is trying to claim his rightful political position and assert his authority.
This situation has put both politicians at loggerheads thereby factionalising the PDP in the state.
The Wike faction is against the conduct of local government elections slated for October 5 in the state while the Fubara faction is insisting the election must be held.
There was a strange twist to the dramatic plot on the wee hours of Friday when some men reportedly dressed in police uniform attempted to gain forceful entry into the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to purportedly cart away electoral materials .
Meanwhile, the governor has insisted that the elections will go as scheduled despite the tension pervading the state
Fubara also alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is working in concert with Wike to thwart his efforts to conduct the local government elections.
