Former Rivers State Governor, Chief Peter Odili, assured Governor Siminalayi Fubara of his role as the political leader of the state.
He conveyed the message that the people of Rivers were firmly in support of Fubara, speaking as their representative.
Odili made these remarks during the inauguration of the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre in Ndoni, within the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.
These affirmations, made on Thursday, served as a show of solidarity for the governor amidst political unrest, particularly in light of tensions between him and the immediate past governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In October last year, Fubara narrowly escaped an impeachment attempt orchestrated by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, leading to an ongoing struggle between the two political figures.
Fubara and Wike have been engaged in a power struggle over control of Rivers’ politics and governance in recent months, with President Bola Tinubu attempting to mediate and offer political solutions to resolve the disputes, albeit without success.
Expressing his stance against Wike, Fubara cautioned his political adversaries not to misinterpret his humility as a weakness, emphasizing the need for respectful conduct.
In a clear show of support for Fubara over Wike, Odili considered Fubara’s mentor, urged him to stand resolute with the President, endorse his commendable policies, and ensure that the people of Rivers occupy significant positions within the federal government’s governance structure in Abuja.
“For those who have not bothered to pay attention, if you look at the map of Nigeria, the entire map of Nigeria is sitting on Rivers State. When Rivers State coughs, Nigeria will catch a cold. So regard your office as key and vital. Don’t look back. It is not a matter of age. It is a matter of your people being with you.
“And they have asked me to tell you that you are the political leader of Rivers State. Rivers people say where you go, they will go with you. Where you stand, they will stand with you.
“You are standing on firm ground. Stand there, hold onto God; the rest of the journey will be a piece of cake.”
Odili commended Fubara for coming to the rescue of the residents with the healthcare project, as he recounted the sad incident last two years when floods ravaged the community.
Odili said, “Let me congratulate you for winning the hearts of Rivers people by standing up to your oaths of office to defend the interest of all Rivers people in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are proud of you.
“Politics is over and it’s now time for governance and you have hit the ground running, you have touched the critical sectors such as education, health, and others in less than one year in office,” he added.