FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hailed the success of Rivers State local government election, held on Saturday, October 5.
Abubakar said the outcome of the poll would dissipate judicial chicanery and “self-serving godfatherism” in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain stated this on Sunday, October 6.
He said, “With the conclusion of the local government election in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state.
“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers.”
He said the state’s people had spoken as one, affirming that nothing could be better than democracy.
Congratulating the newly elected leaders, Abubakar urged them to prioritise their people’s welfare, shun tyranny and delusional ambition in their political endeavours.
“Moreover, I commend the resilient people of Rivers State for their steadfastness in the face of adversity, courageously ensuring that yesterday’s election unfolded with peace and integrity.
“I must also applaud Governor Fubara @SimFubaraKSC, for his unwavering commitment to the people’s interests, safeguarding the sanctity of the local government elections even amidst provocative challenges,” he said.
The PDP’s former presidential candidate maintained that it was Rivers people that emerged victorious in the election, adding that their ‘sacred’ right to choose their leaders was firmly upheld within the framework of democratic process.
The ICIR reported that with the African People’s Party (APP) winning 22 out of the 23 chairmanship seats in the poll, Fubara appeared to have taken over the party structure in the state.
The APP-elected chairmen are said to be the preferred candidates of the governor which could also mean that his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, might have lost control of the state’s structure, at least for now.
Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads over who controls the PDP structure in the state, with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to resolve the stalemate ending in a fiasco.