A former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Peter Odili, has assured Governor Siminalayi Fubara, that he is he political leader of the state.
The former governor told Fubara that the people of Rivers sent him as an emissary to deliver the message that they were solidly behind him.
Odili made the statements during the inauguration of the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre in Ndoni in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.
The affirmations made on Thursday came as support for the governor amid a political turmoil between him and the immediate past governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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Last October, Fubara 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 with Wike.
Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads in the past months as both continually lock horns to be in total control of the Rivers politics and affairs.
President Bola Tinubu had intervened by offering political solution to resolve the conflicts, but peace not seems to be in sight.
Recently, the governor expressed that his political foes should not mistake his humility for foolishness, warning them to behave with courtesy.
In an apparent support for the governor against Wike, his protege, 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 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.
