Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr. Gift Worlu, has declared that his election as council chairman is not a personal triumph but a mandate freely given by the people of the area.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Political Paradigm, Worlu said his emergence reflected the overwhelming support he received during campaigns across the wards of the local government. He described the outcome as historic, noting that since 1999 no one from Akpor had been elected chairman of the council.
“This is not my win; it is the people’s win. We went round presenting our blueprint, and the people voted massively for us,” he said.
He commended Rivers residents for their turnout during the polls, the issuance of certificates of return, and his swearing-in, stressing that the process showed democracy had been restored at the grassroots. He attributed the development to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention, which, he said, paved the way for peaceful elections in the state.
Worlu described his campaign as “more than a presidential campaign,” saying his credibility as a University of Port Harcourt lecturer earned him public trust. He pledged to deliver on his promises and maintain close ties with residents to identify and address their needs.
Highlighting Obio/Akpor’s political significance as home to figures such as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Worlu acknowledged the PDP’s dominance but urged the party to re-strategize, citing cracks that must be addressed ahead of future elections.
Reflecting on the state’s recent political crisis, the chairman said his resignation as Commissioner was to safeguard the system that produced both council chairmen and the governor. He maintained that the Supreme Court ruling confirmed the absence of a functional government in the state at the time, which necessitated federal intervention.
Worlu praised the staff audit initiated by Sole Administrator Ibas, which exposed ghost workers on state and local government payrolls, describing it as one of the positive outcomes of the political impasse.
Looking forward, he identified unemployment, hunger, disease, and ignorance as the real enemies of Rivers people, promising to channel local government resources toward addressing these challenges and ensuring dividends of democracy reach the grassroots.
