Politics
Fubara’s Policies’ll Guarantee Him Second Term
A chieftain of the Simplified Movement, Oyigbo Chapter and Prime Minister of Okoloma-Ndoki Council of Traditional Rulers’, Chief Sampson Akaya, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s policies and people- oriented development projects and programmes will guarantee him a second term ticket in the 2027 governorship polls in Rivers State.
Chief Akaya stated this while exchanging views with newsmen recently in Afam Okoloma -Ndoki, headquarters of Oyigbo Local Government Area, on the most remarkable strides in policies and programmes of the Fubara-led administration in the state for the past one year.
“For the first time, after the first indigenous Military Governor of old Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, His Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, we are having a government that is transforming all the nooks and crannies of the state simultaneously. Go to the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, the story of quality service delivery is the same. So, why won’t such a Governor get a second term.
“What Rivers people should rather be praying for, is for the Governor to keep doing the right thing, despite the avalanche of distractions by those who never wished the state and her people well, when he returns.
“His rescue mission mantra must continue unabated. Rivers people can’t afford to return to the land of Egypt, when we are on the march to the promised land, where milk and honey flows”, Chief Akaya declared.
The royal father used the opportunity to thank Governor Fubara for the appointment of Engr Gogo Philip as Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oyigbo LGA.
“I am indeed happy that the Governor deemed him fit to serve the LGA in that capacity. Primarily, his vision is to take the LGA to the next level. What he touches becomes gold and this is courtesy of God’s grace; and now that he is involved in the development of Oyigbo LGA, he will do his very best to ensure that Oyigbo becomes one of the finest in Nigeria.
“He knows quite well that with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the saddle of governance in the state, every sectors of the economy, especially those of them in the LGAs, would enjoy unquenchable transformation fire, where better future will thrive.”
On his fitness to govern Rivers State, Chief Akaya said that the Governor has the wherewithal to rule the state beyond 2027 in order to attract more democracy dividends to the people.
He, however, urged the Governor not to be deterred, going by the political crisis rocking the state, adding that “No amount of distractions can change the narratives of the Governor’s commitment to quality service delivery, as to take the state and her people to a better development pedestal”.
Bethel Toby
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.