The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi has said that democracy and governance are not at the front burner of Rivers State affairs, describing the residents as “the real losers” in the quest.
Obi’s comment comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, sparked by a disagreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Thelensng reports that the disagreement started a few months into Governor Fubara’s tenure; however, it escalated over time, resulting in a factionalised House of Assembly with two speakers: Martin Amaewhule, loyal to Wike, and Victor Oko-Jumbo, loyal to Governor Fubara.
The crisis has witnessed the defection of 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This led to a Supreme Court case, which consequently ordered the suspension of monthly allocations to the state and local governments.
Reacting to the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi expressed dissatisfaction, stating that democracy in Nigeria remains plagued by unconstitutional actions.
He wrote: “It is unfortunate that, 60 years after independence and nearly 30 years of our celebrated unbroken civil rule, our democracy is still marred by undemocratic practices and values. A significant percentage of our elections are deeply flawed—manipulated to serve the interests of a select few rather than reflecting the true will of the people.
“Governance at most levels does not reflect the genuine values and aspirations of the people because the welfare of the citizens is often neglected in practice.Looking at the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, we see yet another glaring example of how our democracy and governance is not serving it’s purpose, the welfare of the people of River State.”
According to him, the disagreement is not about improving the measurable indices of development such as education, healthcare, or lifting people out of poverty, but rather for reasons that do not in any way benefit the people of Rivers State and Nigeria in general.
“I fully understand the impact of what is happening in Rivers State. The real losers are the people—their welfare and the future of the society their children will live in.
“My respectful appeal to all those involved is to reconsider their positions and reflect on the grace God has bestowed upon them as leaders. They must think about the suffering people of Rivers State and work towards a better future for their children,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State Governor reiterated his commitment to continuously remember them in his earnest prayers and to advocate for their well-being.
He also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and the Federal Government (FG), in the spirit of true democracy and good governance, to use their offices to restore normalcy and bring an end to the crisis.
