Politics
One Year In Office: Gov Fubara Answering Critics With Projects Delivery (1)
Against the surging wave of high political brinkmanship almost immediately after assuming office on May 29, 2023, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has continued to prove his mettle as a committed and focused leader, dispensing quality governance to the State and its people.
This is evident in the harvest of projects delivered in the State as he celebrates one year in office as the Chief Executive of Rivers State in the face of unabating distraction and provocations.
Activities marking the anniversary celebration started on Monday, May 13, with the commissioning of the Ebubu, Ete-o- Aleto road, also known as old Bori Road, in Eleme Local Government Area.
Speaking during the project commissioning, Governor Fubara declared that his response to the provocations by his detractors will be to deliver good governance and execute quality projects that will have positive impact on the lives of the people.
Accompanied by his Abia State counterpart, Governor Alex Otti, who was the Special Guest of Honour, and other critical stakeholders at the event, the Rivers State Governor said he embarked on the project, which is a by pass, to lesson the burden on the East-West Road, and as such complement the efforts of the Federal Government.
He explained further that his administration has the full support of the Federal Government but was being sabotaged by self serving unpatriotic politicians, and faulted the insinuations by political dissidents in the State that his administration was not in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Against the claims of non-indebtedness by the previous administration on projects executed, Governor Fubara revealed that contractors who handled projects under the immediate past administration were still coming to demand balance of payment.
“I’ll continue to identify with good governance, I will continue to identify with those that want to better the lots of the people. We are aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda to complement the efforts of the Federal Government with good projects”, he said.
The Governor who started his early years of career development in Eleme, thanked the people for their support to his administration and cooperation with the contractors which led to the successful completion of the project, and assured that his administration will execute more projects in the area.
He pointed out that he invited the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, to commission the project because he is not a man of artificial integrity but a man of action who is embarking on transformational projects in his State in the face of daunting challenges as well.
In his remarks, Dr Otti said Governor Fubara came prepared to serve Rivers State as nothing would distract him from attending to the welfare needs of the citizenry and urged Rivers people to continue to support the administration of Governor Fubara.
On Thursday, May 16, Governor Fubara flagged off the 33km Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road at Egbeda Town in Ikwerre Local Government Area, with a commitment to continue to deliver quality projects across the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Fubara condemned the attack on his supporters at Eleme by some unscrupulous elements shortly after the commissioning of the Aleto, Ete-o Ebubu, (Old Bori Road ), stating that such actions intended to justify loyalty to a political overlord was totally unacceptable.
He cautioned local council chairmen across the State to guard their utterances and actions, reminding them that they were left with only a few days in office and would be made to pay for hurting anyone unlawfully.
Governor Fubara maintained that he had endured the verbal abuses of his person and attacks on his followers because he had opted to tow the path of peace based on the promise he made to President Bola Tinubu, warning that his peaceful disposition should not be taken for granted.
The Governor declared that his administration came prepared for governance and was ready to account for every money spent in projects delivery, stating that he invited Senator John Mbata as the Special Guest of Honour for the flag off because the Mbata dynasty is a repository of honour and integrity in Ikwerre in particular, and Rivers State in general.
He pointed out that the dualisation of the Elele-Egbeda- Omoku road project will be financed through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 50per cent of the total cost of the contract had been paid to the contractors in advance in order to avoid variations as a result of fluctuation of prices while charging the contractors to deliver the project in record time.
“Our mission isn’t different from President Tinibu’s Renewed Hope to Nigerians; we’re here to give hope, we’re doing it genuinely for the service of the people. We’ve started our journey of showcasing what we’ve done in the state.
“We’re a government that’s ready to serve the people; we’re transparent and genuinely care about the people. When the road is completed, commercial activities will become easy, that’s caring for the people. We’re ready and prepared for the task of governance”, he stated.
In his remarks, Senator John Mbata congratulated Governor Fubara on his one year in office and expressed delight that Rivers State has a governor of his caliber at this period in time.
He commended the Governor for his “humanity, humility, propensity and preference for peace and tranquility”, and assured to join force with stakeholders to support the Governor to emancipate the people and bring development to Rivers State.
On Friday, May 17, the newly constructed Emuoha – Kalabari Road was commissioned by former governor of Bayelsa State and serving Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
In his speech at the commissioning ceremony, which held at Tema junction in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Governor Fubara stated that his administration will not misappropriate funds but judiciously use the resources of the state and tax payer’s money for the development of the state.
“ Out of the total cost of N22billion, the previous administration paid N6billion. I can boldly say that the balance of N16billion, which is 70per cent of the total cost, has been completely paid, therefore we can boldly say that this project was delivered by this administration”, he said.
The Governor further approved the extension of the Emuoha-Kalabari Road from Tema junction to Abonnema Town, assuring that the Ifoko extension will be completed before the end of his administration.
In his remarks, Senator Dickson commended the Rivers State Governor for prioritising peace as the necessary recipe for development and his taste for life changing projects in Rivers State, noting that the construction of roads in the Niger Delta region is difficult and only a governor that has the love for his people can embark on such ventures.
“As a lover of Niger Delta culture and tradition, I’ve taken this road several times to most of the communities in Kalabari Kingdom. I share in the joy of those who are directly impacted”, he said.
He described Governor Fubara as a man of discipline, focus and prudence, with the capacity to rise above the altitude of distraction to dispense good governance to the people, and urged Rivers people to give the governor their unrelenting support to succeed.
From there, Governor Fubara, on Saturday, May 18, commissioned the Andoni Section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project, completed by his administration after 24 years, declaring that the achievements recorded by his administration within the past three months have surpassed those of the previous eight years.
At the commissioning ceremony at Ngo Town, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Governor Fubara commended the efforts of previous administrations on the project, stating that its completion and commissioning will positively impact the lives of the people of Andoni.
The governor thanked the people of Andoni for their support during his election and directed the award of contract for the extension of the road from Ngo to Oyorokoto, a coastal fishing community that is reputed to be the largest fishing settlement in West Africa.
Governor Fubara who promised to focus the attention of his administration on the development of the health, education and agriculture sectors, along other critical sectors of the state’s economy, decried a recent statistical report that scored Rivers State below benchmark in healthcare delivery, declared that his administration will carry out a total overhaul of the sector within the next six months.
By: Taneh Beemene
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.