RESPECTED LADIES AND GENTLE MEN OF THE PRESS.
You are highly welcomed to this press conference at the instance of the Rivers state council of FORMER LABOUR LEADERS FORUM – a forum as the name implies accommodates former Labour Leaders who have served the Labour movement at the state and national levels.
The Forum without Much Ado is in total support of good governance in Rivers state led by the democratically elected Governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS.
The Forum is deeply concerned about the current State of
affairs in Rivers State, especially warring
comments by some political actors and gladiators who do not mean well for the smooth administration of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers state , Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS .
As former Labour Leaders
who have dedicated their years of service advocating for freedom, Protection of Democracy, the rights and welfare of workers in Rivers state and Nigeria, we are compelled to address the current political situation of things in Rivers State and to make a strong call for immediate retreat by those who are still undermining the current peaceful disposition of the Governor of Rivers State , Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS.
You will agree with us that we have witnessed the political comments of those who enjoyed peaceful reign in their own administration and now do not
want the present administration in the state to enjoy the same peaceful environment they enjoyed when they were in control of the affairs of Rivers state.
We remain committed in supporting the efforts of His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers state
towards improving the lives of Rivers people via his on-going socio – economic, human and infrastructural development programs in the state.
To achieve all these , the present administration in the state should be allowed to govern the good people of Rivers state without incessant political upheavals and distractions.
We make bold to say that we are not comfortable with the utterances of one man who enjoyed a peaceful reign in Rivers state for eight (8) years.
Enough is enough of your incessant distraction to the present administration in the state.
Rivers people need peace . No one has the monopoly of the smooth administration of RIvers State.
As Former Labour Leaders in this state , we are highly constrained to make the following demands with dispatch:
(1) We call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately vacate his men from all the 23 local government councils in Rivers state to allow civil servants to return back to work.
Despite the hallows of threat to democracy , right to freedom, fairness and equity and the harassment of the Labour Leaders by security agencies, we call on the President of the NLC, TUC and the NEC of both Labour centres to prevail on this ugly situation and collaborate with both NLC and TUC leadership in the state for this struggle to defend and protect democracy.
We make this call because of the lost of revenue accruing to these local government councils and the deprivation of the rights of the workers in the affected LGAs of serving their people.
(2) The Forum condemned in its totality the recent call by an embattled faction of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in RIvers State by one Nwisabari Bani on the defunct Rivers state House of Assembly led by Chike Amaewhule to commence impeachment proceedings on the Governor of Rivers state and called on him to IMMEDIATELY retract such statement as it was above his person and capacity.
(3) We call on the agitators for the holding of the October 5 Local Government polls in Rivers state to support Governor Siminilayi Fubara who has made it clear that the election must hold comes October 5 this year.
It would be wrong and abnormal that same people who were calling for Local Government polls are the same one calling for the postponement of the polls.
The coast is set for the polls, it’s our strong appeal that every political party participate in the polls.
In the same vein, we are calling on the Nigerian state to allow the organised Labour movement, especially their representatives operate within the provisions of the extant laws of the land without unnecessary interference from the state security operatives.
This undermines their fundamental rights of association and freedom of expression as enshrined in our constitution.
We call on the Governor of Rivers state Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS to continually provide dividends of democracy to the good people of Rivers state, not forgetting to know that the beauty of democracy is the current political upheavals which God has intervened and he is victorious.
We hereby state here categorically that Rivere people loves you and will stand with you come 2027.
Our undiluted and unwavering support to your Administration is not negotiable as we call on the good people of Rivers state to continually support the present administration in the state that’s our God given Administration.
LONG LIVE RIVERS STATE
LONG LIVE FORMER LABOUR LEADERS FORUM
LONG LIVE THE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS.
Signed
Sir Achese Igwe.
Chairman, Former Labour Leaders Forum, Rivers State.
