Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has effectively stopped his predecessor (now FCT Minister), Nyesom Wike, from turning the oil-bearing state to his private estate.
This was disclosed by former governor of the state from 1999 to 2007, Dr. Peter Odili, at a Christmas event organised by him to honour Fubara, his family members and some politicians in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
To Odili, Fubara courageously stopped the usurpation of the state treasury by Wike.
“Governor Fubara summoned an unusual fortitude to confront the quest by Wike to capture Rivers State through ferocious, but unnecessary political war.
“As a family, my wife, children and I, decided to host the Rivers State Governor and his family to a night of varieties of sing-song and other activities in appreciation of the fortitude and sterling leadership qualities he has demonstrated.
“It is now over 12 months, since the 25th of October, 2023, when a fierce existential fight, though unnecessary, was waged against Governor Fubara over the soul of Rivers State.
“Governor Fubara confronted the challenge, prevented the quest by one man to capture the state as a private estate, emancipated Rivers people, steadied governance and made civil servants and Rivers people happier as it used to be until I left office in 2007”, Odili said.
In his response, Fubara said that God has proved Himself worthy as the Ultimate Liberator of the State and its people because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it.
He stated that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective to leadership, adding that with the strength of support from Rivers people, he stopped seeing the crisis as a problem but as a necessary enabler in governance.
“And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people.
“So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from everyone of you that is here. You gave me the encouragement, you do the work for me, you make the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you?
“But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter still remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured.
“God is in control of the affairs of the state. As we look forward to a very prosperous 2025, we should be assured that it will be better than what had been experienced”.
He assured of the determination of his administration to make every succeeding year in the state better with remarkable records of progress, stressing that the excitement experienced among Rivers people during the Christmas celebrations is indicative of a brighter future ahead.
Fubara, who vowed to continue to do what is right, said it is also delighting to see true leaders of the state and well-meaning Rivers people standing on the right side of history, despite series of pressures to surrender to tyranny and oppression.
“I want to thank everyone, and I assure you that we will continue to run a government that will uplift the image of the state. We will not be tyrants.
“We will remember that what we are doing here today is a shift job, and that one day, our time will be up, and we’ll leave for another person to take over.
“And what is important is to allow the machine to keep running effectively, so that when the other person comes, he continues with that steam for progress in the state. So, I thank everyone of you for your support.”
Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, recalled how the crisis that erupted in the Assembly swept them off their feet, but quickly added that the encouragement from Fubara emboldened him and a few others to stand up for the truth to liberate the state.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, said he least expected to have remained a chief judge, just as he didn’t expect the Governor to last in office up until now given the political crisis, but noted that God has turned the crisis as a liberation fight, and assured that he will continue to be on the right side in defence of the state.
Former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, who noted that the gathering was a roll call of the political family of Odili, said Fubara had sufficiently blended traits of Odili’s leadership style with his, and steered the course of governance successfully, making the people of state proud of him as a worthy son.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), thanked the Odilis for organising the family reunion, and lauded the governor and his family for showing unassuming humility and honouring the invitation, while also thanking genuine elders and leaders of the state for joining in the celebration.
