The gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo, has reacted to claims that her principal and presidential candidate of her party, Peter Obi, endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Sim Fubara, against her ambition.

Recall that during the inauguration of the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover bridge in Port Harcourt by the executive governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Obi, who was a special guest at the event, allegedly appealed to the governor for votes.

According to reports, sources claimed that Obi took the microphone and threw Labour Party under the bus after lionising the man that chased him out of the PDP when Wike teased and mocked him.

“Obi described Sim Fubara the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as the incoming governor.

“He didn’t stop there; he said he will advise his supporters to leave Rivers for Wike because Rivers belongs to Wike and Wike is the oga. Then he begged Wike to give him Rivers’ votes in exchange to achieve his presidential ambition.

“This is selfishness. Obidiency is all about Obi and Obi is a timid man. Obi’s true colour has manifested in Port Harcourt. It is a petty, rambling, fawning talk.

“Depicting the emperor as a messiah, Obi said Wike is his example of excellent governance. No principles. Nothing. Obi is selling obidiency cheap,” the source said.

In a swift reaction, the LP candidate downplayed the incident and claimed Obi was also cracking a joke, which was not meant to be taken seriously.

According to an official statement signed by the spokesperson of Beatrice Itubo Campaign Council, Asim Adams, and made available to Freelanews, Itubo and and all Labour Party candidates in the race for various offices remain firm.

Read full statement below.

To ALL CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS OF HER EXCELLENCY Comr. Chief Mrs. Beatrice Itubo
Her Excellency and our incoming Governor in waiting Comr. Chief. Mrs. Beatrice Itubo and the Campaign Council have been inaudated with Sparks and flow of Emotions and cacophony of opinions on the purported statement by our candidate and Labour Party Presidential candidate His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi while commissioning the Nkpolu Oroworokwo fly over bridge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State earlier today.
And Her Excellency and the campaign Council noted that amongst our supporters, there has been a rumpus of sort Which is normal in a large and well oiled political party like our Great Party the Labour Party.
It’s a great testimony of sort that of all those contesting to be President of Nigeria, that it is our presidential candidate that was First chosen by the governor of Rivers State to do the commissioning of a project like the Nkpolu Oroworokwo flyover.
We are not unmindful of the relationship between our presidential candidate and His Excellency, Governor, E.N. Wike and what it generated Today. To say the least, in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests.
Our presidential candidate in his usual intelligent, vivacious and jovial manner made Very elaborately objective and important statements laced with metaphors in response to the heat of Passion of the moment…and unfortunately, these metaphors and analogies have been taken by some from the way they interpreted it to mean His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi has abandoned project Beatrice Itubo and other candidates for the forthcoming Elections…far from it.
Be rest assured that he never meant More than what he stated as we have firmly confirmed from good source and authority that it was a mere statement which never resonated beyond where it was made in the atmosphere of conviviality…and any interpretation of sort or misgivings should be discontenanced.
Her Excellency and all Labour Party candidates in the race for various offices remain and will remain firm to contest the forthcoming Elections on our Great platform.
And that we shall never be intimidated by any Force known and unknown to relinquish and surrender the mandate freely given to all our candidates.
We urge all to be patient and work assiduously to enthrone True democracy in Rivers State by taking our state back from the clutches of evil.
Further press release Shall be made as time agglutinate.
God bless everyone.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.