The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, says no amount of threat can stop him from supporting Governor SiminalayiFubara, saying he can only stop writing and talking about the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike if he leaves the Governor alone and allows him to concentrate on the rulership and development of the State.
Osumah made the remarks in an interview in Port Harcourt, following a physical attack on his person by three men suspected to be loyalists of Wike within the Abuloma axis of Port Harcourt recently.
He said no amount of threat on his life would stop him from supporting Governor Fubara, as he would continue to do so, even at the risk of his life because of his good works, and advised Chief Wike to leave the Governor alone and allow him to concentrate on the rulership and development of the State.
He noted that when Wike was Governor of the State for eight years, he never promoted civil servants and denied them Christmas bonus and yearly increments, describing Governor Fubara as Godsent and a man who has the welfare and interest of the workers at heart.
According to him, the civil servants would continue to stand for Governor Fubara “because he is our own. He has stood for workers.We will stand for him at all times.We will continue to talk about Wike until he leaves the Governor alone to concentrate on his duty of developing the State and attending to the welfare needs of Rivers people.Each time they are attacking or fighting the Governor, they are attacking civil servants in the State and the entire labour movement in the country.”
Osumah noted that as the Christmas festivities are fast approaching, civil servants in the State are expectant, and thanked the Governor for the implementation of the N85, 000 minimum wage for the workers.
While giving an insight into the recent attack on his person, the labour leader revealed that on the fateful day, the attackers who were driving in a black Toyota Camry car had blocked his vehicle and ordered him to enter theirs, after accusing him of insulting and writing against the FCT Minister.
According to him, it was God who saved him, as he successfully resisted the move by the attackers to force him into their car.
“There were three men.The one on the driver’s seat confronted me, saying I am insulting and writing against the FCT Minister and asked me to enter their car. As he was opening the door of the car, I pushed the car door with him, and he hit me on the left eye. He also hit me on the head,” he said.
He indicated that in the ensuing melee, the one who hit him asked the fellow on the front seat, who had jumped down to enter the car and they zoomed off, as people were gathering at the scene.
According to him, the occupant of the back seat, whom he suspected knew him, never came down from the car.
He said the incident happened on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at about 9pm, contending that the attack portends grave danger for democracy in the State,as it is a calculated attempt to muzzle the freedom of speech and expression, since his attackers accused him of insulting and writing against Wike.
In spite of the seeming threat to his life, Osumah reiterated that no amount of such threats would stop him from supporting Governor Fubara, saying the NCSU is proud of the Governor.
He thanked the Governor for recently hosting labour leaders from the 36 States of the federation in Port Harcourt, and also applauded the release of federal allocations to the State in spite of a High Court ruling stopping the release of the allocations.
The unionist equally praised the Court of Appeal ruling nullifying the ruling of a High Court on the October 5 local government elections in Rivers State.