PRESS STATEMENT BY CHIEF INKO BRIGHTSTAR

Life Is Give and Take: The Narrative Must ChangernrnLife, they say, is give and take. I am very much aware that in our society, the wisdom of the poor is often treated as having little or no value — but that narrative must change. The low-class citizens cannot continue to be the only ones supporting the elites without corresponding consideration or inclusion.rnrnGiving the necessary support to the governor, as advised by the MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is not a problem at all. We understand and appreciate the importance of unity and collective progress in the Niger Delta region. However, the governor must take deliberate steps to convince people like me that the old APC members, who have been steadfast over the years, will genuinely be carried along in his government.rnrnSome of us went through serious intimidation and harassment — including police threats — in our struggle to defend the All Progressives Congress (APC) when it was not convenient or popular to do so. We sacrificed comfort, faced opposition, and stood by the party in difficult times. Therefore, it would be unrealistic to expect us to suddenly act as though everything is perfectly fine simply because we now share the same political umbrella.rnrnTrue leadership demands inclusion, fairness, and gratitude. The governor must recognize the loyalty and sacrifices of the old APC members. Only through such recognition and sincere integration can lasting peace, unity, and collective progress be achieved in our party and in the state at large.rnrnSigned:rnChief Inko BrightstarrnPolitical Commentator and APC Stakeholder