The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the six-month emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a grave misstep that should never have occurred.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, Obi said the suspension of democratic governance in the state was not only unnecessary but also amounted to a constitutional breach that would leave a lasting scar on Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, “The restoration of democracy in Rivers State after six months of needless disruption remains a sour side of our democratic journey today. It was a constitutional breach that will hurt our democracy for a long time.”
Obi expressed hope that all the political actors involved in the crisis had learned valuable lessons from the episode, noting that “the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” He emphasized that true leadership is reflected in the ability to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and make deliberate efforts to correct them.
While congratulating the people of Rivers State for their resilience during the period of political turmoil, Obi appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state lawmakers, and other political leaders to embrace peace and work together in the interest of the people.
“The real mistake,” Obi added, “is the one where nothing is learned. I urge all stakeholders to take lessons from this episode and ensure it never repeats itself. Be assured that a new Nigeria is POssible and inevitable.”
