Fubara stopped Wike from turning Rivers into his fiefdom – Ex Gov, Odili

• Odili said Fubara’s doggedness and gallantry stopped the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from making the state his private estate

A Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, has hailed the incumbent Governor Siminilayi Fubara for showing bravery and resilience in his management of the State affairs despite the war waged against him by political opponents.

Odili said Fubara’s doggedness and gallantry stopped the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from making the state his private estate.

According to the ex-governor, Fubara summoned an unusual strength to upend the quest by Wike to capture Rivers State through vicious but needless political war.

Odili spoke at a Christmas Ballard organized by him in honour of Governor Fubara and his family.

He stated that his family decided to host the Rivers State Governor to a night of varieties of sing-song and other activities in appreciation of the fortitude and exemplary leadership qualities he has demonstrated.

The former governor further explained that it is now over 12 months, since the 25th of October, 2023, when a fierce existential fight, though unnecessary, was waged against Governor Fubara over the soul of Rivers State.

“With assuring fortitude, 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”, he said.

Responding, Governor Fubara said that God has proved Himself worthy as the Ultimate Liberator of the State and its people because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it.

He added that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective to 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.

“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.