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By Al-Bishak

The symbolism of the Local Government Council elections in Rivers State yesterday and the imminent swear-in of the victorious 24 chairmen and councilors belonging to Action People’s Party (APP) and Action Alliance (AA) is beyond the contest of power between FCT Minister Wike and Gov. Fubara. It’s an affirmation of the supremacy of the will of the Rivers’ people. Wike had used the Federal High Court, Abuja, Inspector General of Police and INEC to scuttle the elections but to no avail. Rather, the Rivers people and the state electoral commission (RSIEC) determinedly forged ahead with the elections. They came out in their numbers to cast their ballot. Despite few skirmishes and gunshot incidents, the elections were largely peaceful and orderly.

On the surface of it, it was a triumphal victory for Fubara. No, it’s an emphatic victory of the Rivers people, who resisted *intimidation* and *manipulation* to boldly register their presence in the polity that they are *indomitable*. They have rubbished the manipulated judiciary, the cowered national electoral umpire and the supercilious police force. The Rivers people have suddenly launched themselves on the national landscape as democratic schoolmasters in the art of elections. They have taught the polity that a determined people can assert their democratic willpower and independence against all forces of retrogression.

What has happened in Rivers has become a template of democratic revolution in this country. Hopefully henceforth all the people of this country in different geopolities will rise to the occasion by asserting their democratic willpower against the obstacles planted by the ruling elites or oligarchy. President Tinubu will now appreciate that it wasn’t Wike, whom he has preposterously rewarded with ministerial appointment, that fetched him the questionable votes of Rivers people rumoured to belong to Peter Obi to win the presidential election but the acquiescence of the Rivers people. The Rivers people have proven to him their willpower and capacity to make and unmake, not the hubristic and cantankerous Wike who has lost his political value. As the highly speculated cabinet reshuffle of Tinubu becomes imminent, it’s left to Tinubu to continue to hobnob with a self-delusional Wike who has insulted the sensibilities of Nigerians with his constant boasts and threats. It remains to be seen if the Rivers people will defend their elections victory as Wike continues to manipulate the democratic process for political relevance.