Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the state belongs to all its people, not any individual.
This statement comes amidst an escalating feud with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Fubara made the remarks during an inter-denominational church thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt, marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.
He reiterated that Rivers State is nobody’s enterprise, adding that it belongs to all Rivers people and no one individual or group owns the soul of the state, insisting that no one can control it like a personal estate.
The governor’s statement is seen as a direct response to Wike’s claims of control over the state’s political direction.
Recall that Wike, the immediate past governor, had mocked Fubara’s support for the Action Peoples Party and took credit for most ongoing projects in the state.
Fubara countered Wike’s assertions, highlighting his administration’s achievements.
He cited the N200 billion loan secured from Zenith Bank to fund the 50.15-kilometer Port Harcourt Ring Road project and the N225.1 billion Trans-Kalabari Road project.
He hinted that he signed the papers to borrow from Zenith Bank for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road, claiming that it is his project.
Fubara’s administration has also renovated at least ten primary healthcare centers and completed the reconstruction and equipping of two secondary healthcare hospitals.
The ongoing feud between Fubara and Wike has sparked debate about the future of Rivers State.
The governor’s emphasis on inclusive development and his commitment to the state’s independence has drawn attention to the need for collective ownership and progress.
Addressing the congregation, Fubara said: “Rivers State is nobody’s enterprise. It belongs to all of us. No one individual or group owns the soul of this state, and no one can control it like a personal estate. We have to stand strong and protect what belongs to all of us.
“It is Fubara who signed the papers to borrow from Zenith Bank for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project,” he stated.
” They only built a bridge from Krakrama, but I am the one completing the entire span,” he added.
