Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged an immediate end to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, emphasizing that the real victims are the people.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Obi called on all parties involved, including the federal government, to prioritize the welfare of Rivers residents and prevent the situation from escalating further.
Obi described the crisis as a stark example of how Nigeria’s democracy continues to fail the people, with governance benefiting only a select few while the broader population suffers. Despite 60 years of independence and nearly 30 years of uninterrupted democracy, he expressed concern that Nigeria’s political systems still do not genuinely represent the interests of the people.
“It is unfortunate that, 60 years after independence and nearly 30 years of our celebrated unbroken civil rule, our democracy is still marred by undemocratic practices and values. A significant percentage of our elections are deeply flawed—manipulated to serve the interests of a select few rather than reflecting the true will of the people,” Obi stated. “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.”
Commenting directly on the political turmoil in Rivers, Obi lamented that the ongoing crisis is driven by personal political interests, not by a desire to improve key areas such as development, education, healthcare, or poverty reduction. “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,” he said. “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.”
Obi further stressed that the real losers in this crisis are the people of Rivers State. “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,” he remarked.
He appealed to those involved in the crisis to reconsider their positions, reflecting on their leadership responsibilities. “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,” Obi said.
Obi concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advocating for the well-being of the people of Rivers State, stating, “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! -PO.”
Meanwhile, the crisis in Rivers State deepened on Monday as the state House of Assembly moved to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy. The Assembly, which the Supreme Court recently legitimized, issued a notice of gross misconduct against the two executives. Governor Fubara and his predecessor, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, have been embroiled in a political battle over control of the state’s political structure.
