By: Felix Ikpotor
The Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the March 18, 2023 general elections in Rivers State, Chief Beatrice Itubo has again, sounded it loud and clear that nobody induced her to withdraw her petitions against the governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara at the Supreme Court.
She said her decision to withdraw the case was for the best interest of the state.
Itubo who spoke when the leadership of the South South Youth Initiative, SSYI, and one other paid her a visit at her country home in Ogbakiri, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
Chief Itubo while disclosing how members of the South South Youth Initiative, SSYI, were instrumental to her withdrawing of her petition at the Supreme Court against Governor Fubara, also dismissed reports of bribery for her to either continue or withdraw the suit.
The Labour Party candidate who is the immediate past chairperson of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in the state insisted that in as much as she is not a political jobber, does not mean that if she have the opportunity to serve the state she will not accept, just as she encouraged everybody to know their boundaries and not venture into what is not their right in other to sustain peace in the state.
“The South South Youths Initiative, were here in December and that was when we were considering going to the Supreme Court and they begged that considering the peculiar nature of state, the perceived insecurity, the hostilities and all that; and that I should sheathe my sword and see how we can work with the present administration. I gave them my word that I will do some consultation and consider what they have said.
“We did consult, called our stakeholders and a lot of people. I’m a true democrat and of ourse you know I’m coming from the activism background. In activism, power does not flow from up down,it flows from down up, so whatever we want to do we must consult and we conducted widely and that’s why we collectively agreed to withdraw.
“Moreso, we shouldn’t be seen as the people fanning the embers of wars and disunity in the state, at that point I called back to say that we have considered your request and agreed that we weren’t going to proceed. We called the lawyers to discontinue the matter even though we have filed.
“I want to thank you for seeing beyond what we were seeing at that particular time because as at that time I was aggrieved, I was robed, my mandate has been stolen and I must go to the end to retrieve that mandate, but you saw the need for peace and as you called me as a mother I listened and that’s why we are here.
“But there is one insinuation I have been trying to correct, even in the media. Nobody called me to bribe me. Even when I’m quarrelling with you, I will not perpetrate falsehood against you. There were insinuations, there were talks here and there, people were asking questions, saying go ahead we’ll sponsor you and all that but no person singularly, not the former governor, he didn’t call me to say go ahead I want to sponsor you or to use my petition to bring down the present governor, no! that didn’t happen. So that should be discarded,” Itubo stated.
She added: “Yes we have given them our words that we are no longer continuing, but if there is anything we know that we can do to contribute, to advice to move this state to the next level, we will do it.
Before now, Rivers State was at par with Lagos State but today, because of all this skirmishes here and there, you can see that we are very far behind Lagos State.
“Election has come and gone so people should learn to know when you are no longer in power, people should learn to leave when the ovation is loudest, when you are no more there you should be able to sit like someone who brought people and the people will respect you as the person who brought them in.
“We have also seen the ethnic colouration of the entire crisis, it has not been so before, we are one and until we realise that and come together this state will not move forward. We should also be able to stand for what is right irrespective of whose ox is goared and that’s exactly what I stand for.
“We are not political jobbers like some people such that if they are not holding any position in the administration they are already doomed. I’m not like that but that doesn’t mean if any opportunity comes for me to serve my people, I won’t look at it, but I won’t lobby and to my followers too, don’t go and press or lobby anybody on our behalf”.
The former labour leader urged Rivers youths to hold government accountable through meaningful engagement and also pray for the governor that God will give him the wisdom to take the state to its rightful place in the comity of states in the country.
Earlier, National President of South Youths Initiative, SSYI, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar commended Beatrice Itubo for responding to their request to withdraw the supreme Court suit against Fubara and advised the governor to look out for characters like her if his administration must provide the desired development for the state.
The South South youths leader claimed that the administration of the immediate past governor of the state and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike brought untold hardship to Rivers people and did not also give the Nigeria Labour Congress the needed attention and as well wanted to use Itubo against workers in the state.
“,The very reason South South Youths Initiative, SSYI, under my watch came here today is to tell you thank you and tell you that we are very much happy.
“Sometime last month, we came here, appealing to you that we have seen reason why for now, you should think of how to support the current administration and we requested that you should as a mother and for the sake of what’s going on in Rivers State that we don’t like, to work with Governor Siminialayi Fubara to take Rivers State to its enviable height and you told us that you will consider our request and you did.
“Also, as a group we have warned that those persons in authority should not use their positions to distract the peace of Rivers State. Rivers State should grow and develop economically like Lagos State and compete with other developing states in the country.
“We cannot continue to see Rivers State suffering in the midst of plenty. The previous administration under the leadership of Nyesom Wike brought untold hardship to the state, Rivers youths and all citizens suffered under the past administration including you. As the NLC chairperson, you were not given your entitlements, you were not giving attention by the past govt, rather he tried to manipulate you against your workers and those you represent,” he stated.
The SSYI leader added: “We also want his Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to know that in his quest to make Rivers State better for investors, there are others that can come in to help the state and you are one of those persons”.
