Month Of Great Expectations In Rivers: Setting The Agenda For Fubara’s One Year In Office

● How Rivers workers, children and the people are preparing for celebrations in May

By the PHC Telegraph

 

As the month of May which signals the arrival of the summer season in the cool temperate region and heavy rains in the tropics quietly strolls in, Rivers people and indeed other Nigerians are preparing for a round of celebrations.

It is a month when workers all over the world turn out in their numbers to mark the international Workers Day.

As usual, the occasion which is taking place today, May 1, 2024, would provide labour with the requisite platform to review its contributions to nation building, wealth generation efforts and the advent of a society that has become more innovative, creative, motivated and productive.

In Nigeria where workers are asking for a new national minimum wage, chants of solidarity forever will most certainly rent the air as workers dressed in the colours of their unions participate in the celebration of the annual Workers Day.

Given signals that are emanating from the nation’s Capital, Abuja, there are growing expectations that the Federal Government which has been favourably disposed to negotiations with labour is likely to make a very significant pronouncement.

But on this day Nigerian workers will be reaffirming their faith in the labour movement and the struggle of the working class.

 

The month of May is set out by the United Nations and the rest of the international community for the celebration of children.

Children are the salt of the earth and the leaders of tomorrow. Thus, the future of the world which is increasingly turning into a global village depends on the foundation laid today by nations in pursuit of the welfare of the young and the innocent.

On the 27th of this month, to be precise, issues pertaining to children born in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world will be placed on the front burner.

On the same day, Rivers State known as the  Treasure Base of the Nation would also be celebrated.  It was created in May by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon.

In addition to celebrating the first year of the Siminalayi Fubara administration, the Rivers State will on that day mark 57 years of its existence.

But for lovers of democracy, especially Nigerian voters who last year elected new leaders that are piloting their affairs, the month of May will obviously offer a unique opportunity for the people to reflect on the extent of the journey so far.

For the new governments formed by these leaders in 2023 at the national as well as the sub national levels, it would be time, may be on a low scale, to mark their very first year in office.

It hasn’t been easy going forward. The nation and its people have faced serious economic challenges, with prices of essential commodities hitting the roof and inflation galloping away to new heights.

According to statistical data obtained from the NBS and other credible sources such as the CBN, Nigeria’s current inflationary rate is the highest in the last 20 years.

It rose from 28.92% in December 2023 to 29.90% in January 2024. Similarly, interest rates have skyrocketed as the CBN attempts to mop up excess liquidity.

Try as they can, Nigerians cannot forget the removal of fuel subsidy which has resulted in higher prices, the recent move to raise electricity tariff and the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar.

Insecurity is yet to abate especially in the North East as well as the North Central, but stability has gradually returned to Nigeria’s Southeast while the situation in Southern Kaduna is raising some hope among people in the area.

Despite the odds, the intrigues, endless conspiracies, ethnic and religious bigotry, years of political instability as well as mind-boggling corruption, the country has still remained a sovereign and indissoluble entity.

Preparing For Fubara’s One Year In Office: 

In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of his government will be planning to roll out the red carpet.

They have gone to hell and back. They have been hounded, harassed and hambugged by agents of very formidable adversaries that have pursued a heinous agenda of political destabilization.

Fubara who wants peace has not had peace since he stepped into the corridors of power, not for one day.

Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and his supporters have not allowed him space to conveniently steer the ship of state.

Recall that three months into the life of the present administration, an attempt to seize control of the ship of state by enemies of the Fubara administration was set in motion.

These power mongers effectively recycled some civil commissioners who had served in the last eight years, insisted that the State governor must take orders before doing anything and surrounded him with persons whose loyalty to the administration  from all indications, has been rather questionable.

Thereafter, the act of intimidation when Fubara resisted dictations was followed by an impeachment plot designed by some pro-Wike lawmakers to remove him from office.

But, the Fubara administration has survived as a result of the support provided by people of Rivers State and other law abiding Nigerians who reside in their midst.

These patriots as many here see leaders who continue to insist as the State gets ready to celebrate the Governor ‘s one year in office maintain that the elected governor must be given a free hand to manage state affairs.

His opponents in defence of their acts have claimed there was an agreement, and told anyone who has ears to listen that an agreement is an agreement.

Questions Unanswered:

What kind of agreement, if there was one, did they enter into with Governor Fubara? Should the interest of a few who lay an unusual claim to an agreement surpass the welfare and wellbeing of the masses? Should such an agreement result in the hijack of government machinery?

These questions have not been answered by the protogonists of a claim that has left many Rivers people gasping for air.

All of a sudden, the state has been dragged towards an abyssal situation powered by hate and anger.

Accordingly, an unending crisis sponsored by people who had their turn to govern the State the way they wanted is raging on, with Rivers people saying enough is enough.

Voices of Inspiration: 

 

Former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili has emphasized that Governor Fubara is the undisputed leader of Rivers State.

Odili is not alone. Chief Rufus Ada George, also a former Governor of Rivers State and leading elders of Rivers State have all been in the trenches fighting to protect the Rivers mandate.

Chief Celestine Omehia, Senator Lee Maeba, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Chief Abiye Sekibo, Prince Uche Secondus, a former National Chairman of the PDP and a host of other prominent Rivers leaders have come out openly to support Fubara.

There are equally speculations that Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of the State is backing the incumbent Governor.

Amaechi has said nothing, at least in public,  but there are hints that he has allowed his followers to empty into the Sim movement.

While Wike celebrated with Tony Okocha, Rivers NDDC Rep and caretaker chairman of the APC in Obio/Akpor, Amaechi was at a burial with his blood brother, Celestine Omehia in the Ikwerre Local Government at the weekend.

Wike nonetheless insists that he cannot allow anyone to immobilize a political structure that he has spent time, energy and money to build.

Chief David Briggs, a one-time state commissioner for works and a strong critic of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike has since debunked such claims, saying that the only known structure which operates in Rivers State belongs to Odili.

Sekibo has urged President Bola Tinubu to be mindful of Wike and urged him to call his Minister to order while Maeba has utterly condemned Wike’s uncharitable actions.

The Leadership newspaper quotes a former federal lawmaker and Commissioner, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, as saying that the constitutions of the country and the PDP recognise Fubara as the leader of the State.

He said Odili, a former Governor with considerable experience was right when he declared at Ndoni that no one has any right to contest the leadership of the State with Governor Fubara.

Will Wike ever yield to voices of reason that are urging him to give peace a chance, end his ambition to be the leader of the Rivers people and allow Fubara to govern the oil-rich State without let or hindrance?

Only Wike who is allegedly struggling to carve Rivers State in his own image can answer the question.

In the meantime, Fubara is consolidating his hold on power despite the effort of his mentor and political godfather to rock the boat.

Fubara’s supporters who were unjustly arrested and detained in Abuja have been released as a change in tide gradually turns in favour of the Fubara administration and the Rivers people.

A court in Abuja the other day set aside a warrant of arrest issued against Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Barrister Edison Ehie and five others.

The court admitted that it lacked the jurisdiction to issue such an order for the arrest of the Chief of State and accordingly reversed itself.

Breaking The Chokehold:

Wike’s grip on Rivers people, some observers say, is gradually diminishing. Among indigenes of Obio/Akpor where he hails from, people are shifting grounds as the fight for the control of the Rivers State intensifies.

Insiders say it is not that the Rivers people hate their son who served as governor for eight good years.

The people, these insiders note, hate his alleged move to strangulate and intimidate a serving Governor who has their mandate.

What Wike has going for him is the control of 27 lawmakers who are under pressure from stakeholders and civil right groups to vacate their seats in Parliament because of their hasty decision to quit the PDP for the APC.

Many members of opposing political parties in the State that prides itself as the Treasure Base of  the Nation are freely joining the Sim movement without any preconditions.

The thinking in many Rivers circles suggest that the Rivers people are of the view that Fubara should be allowed a free hand to govern his State.

Celebration Galore:

 

Fubara has reason to celebrate his first year in office.

He has traveled a rough and bumpy path, stepped over political landmines laid by his opponents, avoided needless confrontation and set an agenda for his administration.

Addressing stakeholders on Sunday at Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara disclosed how desperate persons allegedly under the instruction of those who do not want him in office have been trying so hard to sabotage ongoing development projects.

This is the background as Fubara and the Rivers people who are backing him prepare to celebrate one year in office.

Activities to mark the monumental moment in the life of the Fubara administration are being lined up according to information that is filtering in.

Rivers people, all things being equal, will be ultimate judges when Fubara unveils some of the projects completed under his watch in the first year.

Those projects which speak to the falsehood being spread in various circles that Fubara has achieved nothing in office are products of a silent revolution that is taking place in Rivers State, a PDP chieftain told the Port Harcourt Telegraph.

Yet, the silence which has trailed the execution of projects under the watch of Governor Siminalayi Fubara  is simply a matter of style.

Whereas Wike spent huge sums of money on the television coverage of projects right from the flag off stage to completion, monies which could have been spent elsewhere, Fubara who understands the needs of civil servants and the ordinary people has so far saved a little more money by avoiding what some see as wasteful spending on publicity.

As a result, civil servants who received mouth watering bonuses last year have gained promotions which were denied for years.

Rivers people who own small businesses are poised to obtain loans through a scheme set up by Fubara as the State turns 57. Funds under the scheme are being managed by the Bank of Industry.

The health sector has benefitted immensely under the Fubara administration. So have the education and agriculture sectors which are receiving serious attention.

The traditional institution hasn’t suffered any humiliation of late. No Executive Order has been issued either in order to show strength and the one that Rivers people elected into office has not been treating them like lepers.

As the countdown to Fubara’s one year in office begins, some say that even if he has put nothing on the ground as a result of the war being waged savagely against him by his detractors, the fact that he has survived the political arm-twisting antics thus far, could well be a major breakthrough.