A former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, has expressed support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, amid the political crisis between him and FCT minister Nyesom Wike.
Odili, who mentored Wike, on Thursday, April 11 declared Fubara as the political leader of Rivers State, saying the people of the state were behind him and would follow his leadership.
Fubara, last October, survived an impeachment attempt by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike and has since then been embroiled in a tussle for political control of the stage with Wike.
Speaking on Thursday, April 11 during the inauguration of the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre in Ndoni in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state built and donated by Odili, the ex-governor commended Fubara’s strides since coming into office on May 29.
Odili said;
“Our people said I should tell you to stand firm with the President, align with his quality policies and carry Rivers people to the engine room of government in the Federal Republic 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 said he decided to undertake the project because two years ago when floods ravaged Ndoni Town, the health centre in the community was destroyed, leaving people without immediate healthcare services.
“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,” Odili said.
