Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has hailed president Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State over the peaceful conclusion of the Rivers State Local Government elections.
The Fubara backed Action Peoples Party won 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance candidate won one seat in the controversial election held on Saturday.
Clark in a statement on Monday hailed the outcomenof the poll despite the boycott of the ruling party and the main opposition parties in the state.
The police also boycott the poll citing Court ruling.
The statement reads in part: “I am particularly glad that the citizens of the state turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.
“This achievement, despite the deliberate boycott of the police from participating in the elections, demonstrates that the people of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigerians as a whole, are mature and patriotic enough to conduct elections and manage their affairs without interference from the police.
“This is a significant and commendable development because there has never been any election, be it presidential, state, or local government, where the security agencies, particularly the police, were not involved, with significant amounts of public funds expended.
“The fact that a statewide Local Government election can be conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner without the loss of lives and destruction of property is a remarkable experience.
“How do we reconcile this with the recent governorship election in a neighboring Edo State, where over 40,000 officers and men of the Nigerian police force were deployed, at a huge cost to the government, followed by complaints and contestations at different levels?
“I suggest that the Federal Government, and indeed, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), should thoroughly examine this development with a view to finding ways to reduce the high electoral expenditures in the country.
“In a very special way, my hearty congratulations go to all the newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors of the respective Local Government Councils in Rivers State for their success in the polls. This is an affirmation of the confidence that the people of Rivers State in the various communities have in them.
“I want to thank His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for creating the atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections and for the excellent arrangements that were made. At the same time, I also thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, for ensuring that the various security agencies exercised due restraint which aided the successful outcome of the polls.
“To the delight of all patriotic Nigerians, this has brought great relief, despite the attempts by unpatriotic elements who did all within their powers to frustrate the democratic process. Regrettably, some unscrupulous elements of respected national institutions such as the Nigerian Police almost fell to their unwholesome and undemocratic plot.
“With this successful election, I call on all the people of Rivers State to come together and ensure that peace and development reign in the State, now and in the years ahead. Enough of unending troubles and distractions.”
