The outcome of the Rivers Local Government election has been hailed as a victory for the people, signaling an end to oppressive and dictatorial leadership.
According to Austin Okpara, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the election result demonstrates that Rivers residents are fed up with being ruled by an emperor.
Okpara, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, praised Governor Siminalayi Fubara for defying odds to conduct the election, according to the PUNCH.
He noted that Fubara’s decision ensured the state’s continued receipt of federal allocations, which would have been jeopardized if the election did not hold.
The former Deputy Speaker also criticized Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for attempting to control both the PDP and All Progressives Congress structures in the state. Okpara cited ideological differences as the reason for his split from Wike, who supported the APC in the 2023 presidential election.
Okpara’s comments come amidst tensions between Governor Fubara and Minister Wike, who have been at loggerheads since last year. The local government election was initially marred by controversy, with the PDP and APC withdrawing from the polls.
Despite these challenges, Governor Fubara pushed forward with the election, ensuring the state’s democratic process remained intact. Okpara lauded Fubara’s commitment to serving the people, rather than personal interests.
The Rivers Local Government election outcome is seen as a significant victory for democracy and a rejection of oppressive leadership in the state.
“The difference now is that we have a governor who wants to serve and not be served, not a governor who Adolf Hitler is his mentor or (Donald) Trump. Rivers people feel liberated; Rivers people are happy; they came out in their numbers to vote, and they are excited.”
He said, “A man wants to control the APC structure, but he wants to be in control of the PDP structure in a state? How do you explain that?
“We were political associates, but now we are no longer. The point of our disagreement was when he supported the APC in the 2023 presidential election at the expense of the PDP.”
Okpara applauded Fubara for defying all odds to hold the state’s local government election despite the PDP and APC withdrawal, stating that the governor had no option.
He said, “We should give credit to Governor Fubara because by the end of the month, any state that does not have (a) democratically elected local government structure will not receive money. What’s the implication? It means that civil servants at the local government level will not be paid? Families will be deprived.
“So, Governor Fubara was helpless in this situation, sacrificed and ensured that rather than go on a party line, let there be an election so that the state would continue to benefit from FAAC allocations.
“We cannot describe that as an anti-party because his party is where he belonged. If you listen to his speech today (Sunday), he said he is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and his party opted out of the election. How do you explain that? A PDP state? His party opted out, so he decided to hold the election.”
