- Says, Rivers State is Liberated
By Abiola Olawale
A former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili has once again delved into the political crisis rocking Rivers state.
This time, the former Governor revealed how Governor Siminilayi Fubara of Rivers State purportedly stopped the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, from controlling the state despite leaving the office.
Odili, who spoke at a Christmas Ballad he organised in honour of Fubara and his family commended the Governor for taking the fight to liberate the people of Rivers state from the purported grip of Wike.
The former governor said that it has now been over twelve months since October 25, 2023, when the state was plunged into a political crisis. According to him, the crisis was unnecessary and “initiated against Governor Fubara regarding the governance and future of Rivers State.”
He said: “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 he left office in 2007.”
In his address, Fubara downplayed the former governor’s appreciation, expressing that it was God who demonstrated His profound worthiness as the Supreme Liberator of the State.
He asserted that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective on 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.
He said: “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 every one of you that is here. You encouraged me; 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 remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured.”
It would be recalled that Fubara and Wike have been locked in a titanic battle for control of the political structure of the state as well as its economic fortunes.
The raging feud between the duo has triggered political turmoil in Rivers state, culminating in conflicting and multiple court orders and polarization of the Rivers House of Assembly into two factions; Pro-Fubara and Pro-Wike.
In December 2023, Fubara and Wike signed an eight-point plea deal purportedly to address the raging feud.
The peace deal was signed at the presidential villa in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. However, since the development, the crisis in Rivers State has continued unabated with worsening dimensions.
