By Charles Igbo
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says he deserves to serve out his full-tenure. He did not indicate whether it is his first four-year tenure, which he is already serving, or a second tenure which he is entitled to contest for and serve out if he wins, making it a full eight years in office.
It is not known why Fubara made the statement, but he has been having a very fierce running battle with his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, who installed him in office. A couple of months ago, the battle resulted in an aborted impeachment of the Governor by the Members of the House of Assembly most of whom are loyal to Wike. Just as he installed Fubara in office, he also installed them as Members of the Assembly. About 25 of them have since decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Party through which they won election, and the Party Wike insists he is still a Member, even though he is a Cabinet Member in an All Progressives Congress’, APC, Government to the APC.
Apparently in response to the several insinuations and verbal attacks against him by Minister Wike which seem to be threatening his tenure, Governor Fubara, on Wednesday, assured Rivers people that he is going no where and would serve out his tenure in office.
He spoke when he addressed members of the Family Support Group which paid him a solidarity visit.
Governor Fubara who spoke through Dr. George Nwaeke, the Head of Service, also, assured Rivers people of the determination of his Government to protect their lives and properties. He posited that his Government is a Government for the youths, women, all good people of Rivers State, and well-meaning Nigerians.
One of the reasons the Governor adduced for his confidence serve out his tenure is that the people of the State stand by him because he “won the election fair and square” and has been delivering democratic dividends.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, on his behalf, after the courtesy visit by the Family Support Group quoted the Governor thus:
“The whole land of Rivers State stands in affirmation that we won the election fairly and deserve to serve out our full tenure. There is not going to be anything that will cut short the popular mandate that you all gave to this administration.”
He then flaunted his achievements within the period he has been in office to justify why it is necessary for him to serve out his tenure.
Fubara: “Just about within weeks of assuming office, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara flagged off the Port Harcourt Ring Road project that will traverse six Local Governments. It will be completed within 36 months. But I think it will be completed before the time because the progress of the work we have seen is beyond what we were thinking.
“The official main Trans-Kalabari Road will start very soon and will begin from Port Harcourt. A lot of plans have been made for that road, and very soon, you will see contractors on site, and Rivers State will be opened.
“Just yesterday, you heard in the news, also, that the Governor has commenced the construction of the Elele-Egbeda- Omoku Road. That road was initially done with one lane, but now, he us going to dualise it. The Government has already awarded the contract.”
A few days ago, Wike bemoaned, for the umpteenth time, his regrets in allowing Fubara to succeed him in office instead of Honourable Kingsley Chinda, his core loyalist, a four-time Member of the House of Representatives, and the House’s Minority Leader.
