...Fubara swears Newly Elected Council Chairmen 4:pm Today
By Olawale Lamina
The erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has described the just concluded Local Government elections held in Rivers State as victory against undemocratic forces and some selfish politicians who do not have the interest of Rivers people at heart.
The party chieftain spoke against the backdrop of stratagem and political horse trading to turn the state into private estate, stressing that governor Siminalaye Fubara, had through the outcome of the LG polls proven to Nigerians that he is really in charge.
In a statement, the former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP, alleged that, ” the deliberate artificial distractions championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to scuttle the conduct of the election in the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, were perfectly and meticulously addressed by the Rivers State Government, prior to the election.
“At this juncture, the success story behind the conduct of the council elections in Rivers State cannot be complete without the mentioning of Governor Sim Fubara. Without mincing words, Governor Fubara has engraved his name on the sands of time as a true Democrat, a Trojan and number one Defender of democracy in Nigeria. His Excellency, by your admirable leadership and managerial acumen, you have proven that you are a tool in God’s Hands to free Rivers State from the draconian hold of Emperor Nyesom Wike.
“Though Nigeria celebrated her 64th Independence on 1st October, I can comfortably say that 5th October 2024, ushers in the Independence of Rivers State from the shackles of tyrannical rule, experienced in the hands of the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike.
He urged the Fubara led administration to forge ahead and reclaim lost opportunities by designing policies that will attract direct foreign investments and take Rivers State to where it rightly belongs, adding that the conduct of local council elections in the state. According to him, the exercise also exposed the biased stance of the judiciary, INEC and the Nigeria Police, calling for the disengagement of Prof. Mahoomud Yakubu from INEC, for the country have a peaceful, free and fair election. He stated that the INEC boss had continued to “prove that he is not changeable in his drive to ridicule democracy in Nigeria.”
He reasoned that with the conduct of the local government council elections, “the world can now see that when you disarm and deprive Nyesom Wike, of his system of rigging, he is not relevant in any way to democratic growth in this country.”
But he acknowledged that, apart from the firm resolve, brevity, farsightedness and proactiveness of Governor Fubara, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) deserved commendation for “organizing a very peaceful, orderly and successful Local Government election in Rivers State amidst all the misguided man-made challenges posed on her path by some demented political atheists, who adopted all sorts of devilish strategies to ensure the election did not hold.”
He also emphasized that with the successful conduct of the council elections across the 4,442 polling units in Rivers State, the RSIEC has shown that with the right leadership, proper planning and execution, Nigeria can conduct a very credible, free, fair and widely acceptable election “unlike the charade and show of shame called 2023 general election that was conducted by Prof. Mahoomud Yakubu led INEC.”
Continuing, he also alleged that, “It is regrettably sad and unfortunate that our party, the APC founded to promote democracy and good governance in Nigeria, instead of condemning the plot to throw Rivers State into darkness by Wike and his blindfolded cohorts rather kept quiet over the undemocratic plots aimed at undermining the principles under which some of us suffered to set up the party. This notwithstanding, let me use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude as a concerned stakeholder in the politics of Rivers State to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, the PDP National Working Committer, Former President of FRN, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Sir Celestine Omehia and his patriotic Elders, HURIWA, Arise TV, Channels TV, ZLP, Zenith Labour Party. National Chairman, Chief. Dan Nwanyanwu and all those who stood firmly to condemn the attack against democracy in Rivers State this past few days.”
He advised Governor Fubara to unfailingly swear in the duly elected Council Chairmen today (Sunday) while the Council Chairmen should on their own swear in the elected Councilors in their various Local Government Areas into office. “This is because Wike, as a very wounded lion will be looking for who to devour as he has already stationed his unprincipled foot soldiers to approach the Court by Monday, to obtain sponsored ex parte orders and interim injunctions,” he alleged again.
He congratulated the newly elected chairmen, who emerged victorious at the ballots.
“I urge the newly elected council Chairmen and Councillors to implement policies and programmes that will alleviate poverty from their local government areas, and build industries that will take away youths from the streets. You must ensure peace within your council areas and emulate Governor Fubara’s peoples oriented policies.
As democratically elected officials, you need to know that the new mandate, though juicy, can be a banana peel. The danger is that unlike a Governor who enjoys immunity while in office, a Local Government Chairman or Councillor can be picked up by anti corruption agencies in the event of corruption allegation or indictment.
In other words, as elected leaders at the grassroots, you should see your political status as an avenue to bring democratic governance and it’s dividends closer to the rural populace in terms of development and provision of social amenities that have direct impact on the lives of rural dwellers. As leaders of local government administration, you have to work with community leaders, and stakeholders in identifying key issues affecting your various local government areas, such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, and economic development.
To make a good council leadership, identified developmental issues must be prioritized based on urgency, importance, and community needs,” the party chieftain counselled.
Eze formally joined Hon Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd) the Chairman, Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to salute the people of Rivers State for their patriotism, resolve, resilience and support of the overwhelming majority of Rivers State people and residents which culminated in the success of the exercise.
And, on a cautionary note, Eze said: “Finally, let me counsel President Bola Tinubu that if he fails to have a rethink as regards his dealings with Barr. Nyesom Wike in respect of Rivers State politics, he should forget of any political relevance in Rivers State as the FCT Minister has become a liability to his (Tinubu) political growth in this country.”
Fubara set to swear-in newly elected Council Chairmen
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has announced the imminswearing in ceremony of the newly elected council chairmen of the state 23 local government.
The announcement was contained in a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Tmy Wenike Danagogo on Sunday,( a copy of which was obtained by The Pinnacle Times by proxy.
The announcement states: “The Governor of Rivers State, will today Sunday, October 6, 2024, swear-in the newly elected Council Chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4pm.
The newly elected Chairmen, along with one (1) guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30pm.
About The Author
