The defeated governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, has lauded the independence and maturity of the tribunal, explaining that he was not surprised with the outcome of the case.
The tribunal, had in Abuja on Monday, struck out the case filed by the Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and Chief Nyesom Wike, who emerged the governor of Rivers State after the April 11, elections.
Princewill, in a statement, yesterday, noted that he did not approach the tribunal, rather his party did, even when he advised against it, stating that the party also tried to suspend him because he advised against taking the wrong decision by going to the tribunal.
He vowed to always stand with Rivers State, adding that he will always pursue the interest of the state.
According to him, ‘’I refused to approach the tribunal for many reasons, some which I made public, but one major reason was the fact that men of God I respect, told me not to. And when I prayed about it, my mind was at peace’’.
He said the April elections were the worst in the history of the state; but in line with the provisions of the Constitution, Chief Nyesom Wike was sworn-in, adding that the governor has a constitutional right to govern the state, till further notice.
He said that there was the urgent need to give Wike all the support needed for him to succeed.
‘’Surprisingly, the party did not contest the senatorial elections, nor the House of Representatives nor any of the House of Assembly elections; just mine, even when I said NO. I hear they lost. Maybe, someone sponsored them. So, even if rumours cooked up by mischief makers state that my case was recently struck out, the majority that follow and understand my activities know that I have no business with the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal.
‘’It was not my case. Truth be told, the annulment of the elections in Rivers State would not surprise me; but what will be the outcome of a re-election? My stand is with the people of Rivers State. I have a feeling I know what they want.’’
The defeated Governorship candidate, however, reiterated that he was in politics to right the wrongs for the common people, not to enrich, noting that he joined politics not to be the winner at all times or the loudest critic, but to impact positively on the lives of the people.
He said killing people to get into power is not his portion, but that he came into politics to save lives and empower the people.
According to him, ’’Taking lives to get into power is not my portion. I came to save lives and empower them, not to take them. That is all I want from politics, and that is all I strive to get out of it.
“A lot has happened in the last few months, but what stands paramount is that Nigeria is still one, and there is still hope. That is something we all should be proud of.
‘’I have been involved in every kind of politics, including opposition politics and politics of the party in power, but the one, I find most interesting, is the people’s politics. That is what President Goodluck Jonathan displayed at the end of his tenure. The people come before the party. And they both come before you’’, he said.
He urged his political associates not to take politics as a profession but to ensure that a sustainable and legitimate source of livelihood is always in place.
According to him, “I am yet to see a reason to pat President Muhammadu Buhari on the back, but I also haven’t seen a reason to crucify him either. For a government to move ahead, criticism can be effective but distractions can be destructive’’.
He urged Nigerians, irrespective of their political parties, to mustered support and help the present government at the federal level to succeed, stressing that critics should proffer solutions and keep Buhari on his toes.