Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has added his voice to the power struggle in Rivers State, appealing to the warring leaders to take the poor people in the state into account.
In a lengthy post on Tuesday about the crisis, Obi stated that the case of Rivers is a classic example of how democracy should not be used to serve one person.
Obi insisted that it is regrettable that 60 years of independence and over 30 years of uninterrupted civil rule have witnessed democracy still bedeviled with undemocratic attitude and values.
A one-time governor of Anambra State insisted that a substantial portion of Nigeria’s elections are grossly flawed and rigged in the interest of the power elite and not what people actually want.
“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,” he said.
“Looking at the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, we see yet another glaring example of how our democracy and governance are not serving their purpose—the welfare of the people of Rivers State. The disagreement is not about improving the measurable indices of development: 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.
“My commitment remains to continuously remember them in earnest prayers and to advocate for their well-being. I also appeal to well-meaning Nigerians and the Federal Government, in the spirit of true democracy and good governance, to use their offices to restore normalcy and bring an end to this crisis. A new Nigeria is Possible!”
