By Tonye Orabere
Precisely on the 13th day of December 2024, Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State was agog with celebrations amidst tears of joy.
The event was the expression of gratitude to God for the landslide victory during the 5th October 2024 Local Government elections in the State by the leaders, members of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and well-meaning people of Rivers State.
Aside the overwhelming victory at the polls, the Thanksgiving service was informed by the several failed efforts to stop the election by opposition forces following the intervention of God.
The thanksgiving was witnessed by huge crowd including the National Chairman of the Action Peoples Party, Barrister Uche Nnadi, National Legal Adviser, Barrister Henry Odili, State party Chairman, Hon. Sunny Wokekoro, DSSRS, all 23 Local Government Area chairmen and their vice chairmen, councilors and people from all walks of life.
It was a like a carnival atmosphere that day as people throng into the streets of Port Harcourt jubilating, singing praises to God, after they heard that the Appeal Court in Abuja has struck out the case challenging to the disbursement of statutory allocation to Rivers State. It was indeed a twin event and a double celebration.
While delivering the Sermon on the Thanksgiving at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church , Hospital Road, in Port Harcourt, the officiating Minister Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Okwuchi Oko-Jaja, advised Nigerians to always have faith in God.
He said it was because members of the Action Peoples Party (APP) have faith in God that is why they won that election.
He further stated that since the inception of this administration led by Governor Siminilayi Fubara, good things have started happening in Rivers State and there is synergy between the State and Local Government Areas.
“I am saying here that you will not fail, God will continue to honour you”, the officiating Minister, Rt. Rev. Oko-Jaja said.
At the reception venue, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumuola, the National Chairman of the party , Barrister Uche Nnadi in his goodwill message assured Nigerians that a new Nigeria is possible under the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Barrister Nnadi who was represented by the National Legal Adviser of the party Barrister Henry Odili said the Action Peoples Party will move from glory to glory in the State .
“I want to tell Nigerians, a new Nigeria is possible under the Action Peoples Party (APP), that is if you vote our candidates in leadership positions.
” Action Peoples Party (APP) in Rivers State will move from glory to glory”, Nnadi said.
Also speaking the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Sunny Wokekoro, DSSRS stole the show as he spoke very emotionally, and honestly with tears coursing down the eyes of some persons.
The tears were reflection of eight years of sufferings meted on people in Rivers State especially civil servants by the immediate past administration.
While speaking Hon. Wokekoro explained how some persons tried to frustrate the party’s leadership, infact looking for several ways to exterminate the party in Rivers State.
He revealed that his party, the Action Peoples Party is ready to participate when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct By- Election to fill the vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly come 2025.
The Action Peoples Party’s boss expressed optimism that his party’s candidates would win all the 27 seats as they will bring persons that have credible credentials that can win election.
According to him, the party won the Local Government elections landslide because they have good intentions to serve the people of the State, adding that it was on that premise God disappointed the enemies of the State when they tried to stop the election through court and all antics.
“We are here to celebrate and thank God, God gave us another victory today, as the Appeal Court has refused to stop disbursement of Federal allocation to the State. God has disappointed them again, they failed with all antics to stop the elections.
“I tell you no power that can destroy a united people. I am happy the Local Government Area chairmen are all doing well, God used this party to put smiles on the faces of Rivers people. We are focused and determined to make a difference.
“Thanking God is very important, God appreciates thanking him, when you thank Him he gives you more good things.
” I want to say that nobody should take the place of God because if you try to do that, God will humble you.
“We came here today to thank God for giving us victory against all odds on the 5th October, 2024 Local Government Areas (LGAs) elections.
” God is with us that is why the election went smoothly and became one of the most peaceful and freest elections in the world, that equally shows that Nigerians can conduct election without the Police”, Hon. Wokekoro said.
He used the opportunity to appeal to all the Local Government Area chairmen to support the Rivers State Government led by Sir Siminilayi Fubara, even though he is not a member of the Action Peoples Party as Governor Fubara is actually taking Rivers State to different and higher level through holistic infrastructural and human capital development.
He also emphasized that the Action Peoples party was fully in support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Ichemati Ezebunwo Prince-Charles, who spoke on behalf of the elected chairmen of the Local Government Areas assured Rivers people that all the chairmen will continue to carry out human capacity development projects and function in line with the vision and mantra of the Governor ” The People First'”.
According to him, the party has started delivering the dividends of democracy, adding that the local government elections conducted was the most peaceful election.
” I will thank the governor of the State Sir Siminilayi Fubara, for giving us the opportunity to run the election” he said.
The Vice Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Hon. Patience Ebere who also represented all the elected vice chairmen of Local Government Areas said the party has come to stay in Rivers State.
She noted with pleasure that Rivers State is peaceful since the inception of the administration and thanked God for that.
