Eastern Union Lists Lessons Learnt From Rivers LG Polls

A pro-good governance group, Eastern Union, Thursday, commended Gov Sim Fubara of Rivers State for putting the interest of the people of the state ahead of political god-fatherism.

EU’s National President Hon Charles Anike said there were many lessons to be learnt from Fubara’s governance in the state. While congratulating the people of the state for a peaceful conduct of last Saturday’s local government elections, EU said the group was satisfied with the governor’s determination to do the right thing “despite all the threats, intimidation and manoeuvring by the Abuja cabal”.

According to Anike, “We congratulate Fubara for his courage and doggedness to stand out to defend the mandate of the good people of Rivers State. This action stands him out and has equally set a pace for others still under hostages of their evil godfathers to get liberated. This feat will remain a reference. The activities of political godfathers in Nigeria have definitely crossed the red line and surely coming to an inglorious end in our political democracy journey.”

He listed lessons to be learnt from the election to include, “That nobody should negotiate with the mandate of the people; Fubara has proven to godfathers that they don’t have the monopoly of violence; we also learned that without the Nigeria Police, elections can be conducted peacefully.”

Anike alleged that the police, since the inception of the APC government at the centre, had been “tools for election rigging and violence”, adding that, “The police are always used to intimidate and frustrate opposition to perfect rigging.”

He said the successful conduct of the Rivers council election had proven that Nigerians can conduct free, fair, credible, violence free and peaceful elections.

“It is also clear that any candidate that will stand out on behalf of the Nigerian masses going forward, especially in the presidential election, must possess the courageous spirit of Sim Fubara to be ready to defend the people’s mandate no matter the threats.

“The 2027 general elections must not be tolerated like 2023 where the people’s mandate was robbed at broad-day light. It will and must not be a season to employ a gentleman’s approach or say let us go to already corrupt Nigerian courts or that the Nigerian youths should calm down,” he said.

According to him, going to court or believing the rhetoric of INEC would be repeating the same mistake of the past, and making mockery and caricature of oneself and the innocent citizens.

He added, “The present INEC and the present judiciary have been shown to be extensions or departments of the APC so there will be no sense by anyone relying on any of them for anything good.”

THE WHISTLER reports that the All Peoples Party won 22 out of the 23 LGAs in the state. Fubara is of the Peoples Democratic Party, but was alleged to have given his support for APP. He has been at political confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over the control of the soul of governance in Rivers State.