A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has confessed that he has the moral right to support Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
In a chat with the Punch on Friday, Secondus said Governor Fubara has the support of leaders in the state, and they all backing him in the supremacy battle with Wike.
He said the support cut across political parties, adding that Rivers elders won’t open their eyes and allow the peaceful state to go into a crisis that will consume it.
The former PDP chairman said Rivers is an oil-producing state, and anything that affects it will have a ripple effect on the nation’s revenue.
Secondus, however, urged President Tinubu to call Wike to order and stop him from plunging the state into an avoidable crisis.
He said: “In my case, you know I’m a member of the PDP, and I have the moral right to support him. Even during the election, I was with him. Now, every leader in the state is queuing behind the governor in this face-off; we cannot just wait and allow an individual to give our state a bad name.
“As I said, Rivers is an oil-producing state and anything that affects it will have a ripple effect on the nation’s revenue. We have to guide against that. That is why I want President Bola Tinubu to call his minister to order and stop him from plunging Rivers State into an avoidable crisis.“
Another group of elders under the aegis of the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought also declared their support for Governor Fubara.
The Convener, High Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said, “They (former commissioners) were not there to serve the state. They were also not men of their convictions because when a man is a man of his convictions, he should be able to deal with justiciable principles. So, they were there just to fulfill some particular interest.”
Chukumele also advised the governor to appoint competent Rivers people to fill the vacant cabinet positions.
“And I think the Governor may also need to create more ministries. For instance, we need a Ministry of Home Affairs in Rivers State. There is so much that is happening that requires security. There needs to be a commissioner who will handle an office like that.
“There are many people who are eminently qualified in Rivers State to fill those positions. They will also be loyal to the governor and the Government of Rivers State. That is important. Insubordination must not be tolerated. There has to be zero tolerance for insubordination. Rivers people are looking for the best,” he added.
Speaking in the same vein, a member of the Rivers Elders’ Council, Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, urged the governor to concentrate on governance and avoid political distractions.
He said, “The governor should concentrate. There is no politics now. Politics will come again in 2027. But for now, anything that will cause him distraction should be removed, and he should forge ahead.
“If he fails to deliver the dividends of democracy to the Rivers people, the people will take their decision in 2027. So, he should give more attention to the development of the state. Nobody will take what is happening now as an excuse for failure in his role as the state governor.”