The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has said that the people of Rivers are the real losers in the political crisis bedevilling the state.

Obi said this in a statement released on Tuesday.

Recall that the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly recently initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof Ngozi Odu.

The development is a culmination of months of political tensions between Fubara and the assembly loyal to former Rivers governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Weighing in, Obi said the political crisis in the state is “yet another glaring example of how our democracy and governance is not serving its purpose, the welfare of the people of River State”.

The former Anambra governor said, “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.

“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.”

Obi insisted that 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.

“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.

“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.

“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,” he stated. (Daily Sun)