A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) Kenneth Okonkwo, has commended the conduct of Governor Siminilayi Fubara of Rivers State, in the just concluded Rivers State Local Government Area elections held on Saturday, News About Nigeria reports.
He made this known while reacting to the crisis that preceded the just-concluded election in the state.
Speaking in an interview with Soar TV, Okonkwo lauded Fubara for standing for the rights of the people who voted him and defending them against unscrupulous elements, ensuring that the elections took place against all odds.
He noted that any politician who is not ready to stand for the people who voted for him or her because of fear of being killed should step aside.
He also commended Fubara’s resolve to proceed with the elections despite the pull-out of the Nigeria Police Force and pushback from supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The former LP campaign spokesperson, stressed that politicians like Fubara, who resist and protest when their rights are trampled upon, are needed to solidify the country’s democracy.
He stated, “If you’re not willing to take the risk that is attached to any profession, step aside so that people who God gives that mind will go ahead and serve God in that capacity. If you’re a politician and you can’t stand for the people who voted for you, and because you don’t want to die, step aside. Because that’s what the job entails.
“Any politician that is not behaving like Siminalayi Fubara — who resists and protests when his rights are trampled upon, knowing that our judicial system and our electoral system have failed us, no matter the risk to his person — I will not speak for that politician again, and I maintain it.
“And you can see what is happening because the Labour Party can’t go forward. If Sim Fubara had been saying ‘calm down, calm down’, do you know where Rivers state would have been? He said he’s ready for them. He’s fully prepared. The election must go on. The election must be held. Winners must be declared. They will be sworn in, and whatever is going to happen, let it happen.
“I’m looking for leaders who would say, ‘nobody will rig my election, and if you rig my election, I will fight, and let us come out and fight.”
