Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that the emergence of Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the winner of the last governorship election in Rivers State would  herald accelerated development in every sector of the state’s economy, particularly in the consolidation of the NEW Rivers vision.
Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Governor Wike said the Governor-Elect has the right bureaucratic acumen and pedigree to govern the state having gone through the rank and file as a Civil Servant to the position of Accountant General of the state before he resigned to contest for the governorship election.
Governor Wike further disclosed that his parting gift to civil servants  and Rivers people in general was to give them a Governor from the civil service who has technocratic experience and understands the process of governance, noting that Fubara would govern Rivers State with a deep sense of probity and responsibility.
The Rivers State Governor also stated that he would not interfere in the governance of the state by his successor.
Governor Wike dismissed allegations that he betrayed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi in the last presidential election, stating that the G-5 governors did not make any official endorsement of Peter Obi as their preferred Presidential Candidate, but were primarily concerned about the emergence of a President of Southern extraction to balance the political equation in a pluralistic state like Nigeria for equity and justice to prevail.
Governor Wike also attributed the woes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential election to those who violated the provisions of the party’s constitution on power shift to suit their whims and caprices.
He pointed out that such self imposing personalities, including the national chairman of the party who branded the G5 governors as ‘children’ lost in their units, wards, and states, thereby further  depleting the fortunes of the party in the presidential poll.
In a related development, Governor Wike, on Thursday, in a swift reaction to the suspension of former Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP and the invitation of his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom by the National Disciplinary Committee of the party for questioning over allegations of anti party activities, described the actions of the  NWC as  ‘heights of all insults’.
Governor Wike who referred to the evolving development in the Iyorchia Ayu led leadership of the party as a ‘kangaroo set up’ said, Governor Ortom would not appear before the National Disciplinary Committee as he, in no way, worked against the interest of the party but worked towards the unity of the country.
The Rivers State Governor among other dignitaries, on Saturday, attended the funeral service of the late Apiti of Rumueme, His Royal Majesty, Omunakwe Nyeche Nsirim at St John’s Anglican Church, Rumueme in Obio Akpor LGA, Rivers State.
Speaking at the funeral service, Governor Wike described the late Rumueme Monarch as a great leader whose political activism brought his community to limelight.
The Governor said the Rivers State Government decided to accord the late Rumueme Monarch a State burial in recognition of his immense contributions to the social political development of Rivers State.
He also directed the people of Rumueme Kingdom to submit the name of a successor to the vacant stool to the Rivers State Government through a unanimous and rancour free process of selection for replacement.

By: Taneh Beemene