Controversies seem to have trailed the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer, Peter Obi‘s association with the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, as the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Beatrice Itubo and some aggrieved members blow hot over the move to trade off Rivers LP candidates.
OsunDaily News reports that Itubo has vowed never to step down for Wike’s governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, who is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Itubo, who expressed worry about Obi’s association with Wike said the governor lacks the capacity to influence votes for him (Obi) in Rivers state.
According to her, with or without Wike, Obi will win in Rivers state, noting that Wike’s promises to deliver Rivers to people is operating himself.
The Rivers state Labour Party governorship candidate had reacted to Obi’s alleged move to trade the party’s candidates in the state for his win in the state at the 2023 general election.
OsunDaily News recalls that Obi, was in Rivers on Thursday as a guest of the governor to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover,
Obi in his remarks to the governor said “I’ve listened to what you said, you said I should advise Labour people that they should be careful of the state, I’ll talk to them and we will negotiate. So, if we leave the State for him he will leave the centre for us. Is it not?
“If we leave the State for him he will leave the centre for us. So, we will negotiate it, we know you are in charge, and we will not quarrel with you, anybody who quarrels with you doesn’t know what he is doing. I will not try it. I’m begging, please give us this one, take the others, and we will leave it for you. I’ll accommodate them in the other one.”
However, Itubo and other aggrieved Labour Party members reacted to the move saying Obi’s statement was seen within a political context.
Itubo advanced that Obi did not buy forms for her, therefore he would not negotiate anything on her behalf, asking aggrieved members of the party to see the statement as political.
She told the Nation that “It is a political statement. He didn’t buy the form for me and I didn’t buy the form for him. Everybody bought the form for themselves. So, I didn’t see how he will go to negotiate for me. I am campaigning in Rivers State. If I didn’t campaign, we will not be a threat. They saw us as a threat and that is why he was trying to negotiate.
“I don’t see that as anything serious. It has not dampened anybody’s morale. If there is anything, it has increased my own morale. I am the incoming Governor of Rivers State whether the devil likes it or not. It is a divine mandate. God has given me the opening and the wherewithal to work for it. Nobody can stop it.
“Even Wike knows that what he has is his vote. Promising people he will deliver Rivers to them he is overrating himself. Going to tell people he would deliver Rivers so he will come and carry my PVC and vote for me. He is only trying to deceive those who don’t know him.
“With or without Wike, Peter Obi will win Rivers State. My fear is even this is fraternizing with Wike. With or without Wike, Peter Obi will win more than 70 per cent in Rivers State following the level of work we have done for him. So, I don’t see Wike as a threat. As for me, I am a Government House Candidate come 2023 and I will invite you to that party.”
OsunDaily News learnt another aggrieved who pleaded anonymity also told Nations that “Obi came to Port Harcourt when Beatrice Itubo, the Governorship candidate of Labour Party in Rivers State, was still in the sickbed nursing injuries she sustained in a domestic accident. This woman has been mobilising support for him.
“Obi did not see any verifiable reason to at least visit the woman in the hospital rather he was comfortably at home trading the woman’s ambition off with Wike all in his selfish ambition to be President.
“Yes, there is horse trading in politics, the honest thing would have been to see the woman, probably discuss reasons with her on the importance of working with the PDP candidate and show empathy with the woman.”
Itubo while giving an update about her state of health said “On, my domestic accident, I informed the party. Most of them called me including him to wish me a speedy recovery and I think that was enough. Everybody has a way they react to issues. I am only telling them to read between the line. Some statements are political. They shouldn’t take it to heart as if it is anything. The Obi that I know is wiser than that.”
