Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has approved the construction of a modern psychiatric hospital in Obi Akpor Local Government Area, home to his political rival and estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT)......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Wike, who hails from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, has been in a power struggle with Fubara, accusing the governor of abandoning those who helped him rise to power.
In a reception organized by the Ijaw Peoples Assembly in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike boasted that when the time comes, he would teach Fubara and his supporters a political lesson. He added that the political battle in Rivers State was far from over.
“Imagine in Rivers, they are contemplating the APP. It is not about money. You can have all the money, but if there is no capacity, there is no capacity,” Wike said, referring to Fubara’s administration.
“We have defeated them before, and we will defeat them again. Our job is politics, and when the time comes, we will show them what politics really means.”
In response, Fubara addressed the claims during an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service in Port Harcourt, which marked Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.
He stated that his achievements in just one year outshine those of his critics in eight years.
Fubara pointed to several ongoing projects as evidence of his administration’s progress.
“It was Fubara who signed the paper to borrow N200 billion from Zenith Bank for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. It is my project. I also awarded the Trans-Kalabari Road, which they couldn’t complete. I am building the entire road, not just a bridge,” he said.
“I’m also constructing a general hospital that includes a psychiatric hospital, because they will need it very soon.”
The governor emphasized that his administration’s focus is on the people, not personal interests or political noise.
He criticized his opponents for only engaging in empty rhetoric while his government delivered tangible projects for the state’s benefit.
“We’re doing it for the people of Rivers State. We will not make decisions we cannot defend. We will not bring disgrace to the state,” Fubara said.
“This state is our pride, and that is why some people are struggling against our progress.”
Fubara also alluded to the improvement in the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), which he attributed as another reason for the opposition’s frustration.
“We’re not here to embark on mere jamboree or groundbreaking ceremonies. Every project started will be completed and put to use,” he assured, adding that his focus was on tangible development rather than political spectacle.
He called for unity and a plea to safeguard the opportunities that God had provided, warning that those who sought to undermine his government would continue to struggle for recognition.