... Calls for ‘Continued Support’ for Fubara
By Godwin Chukwumaechi
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo, has called on journalists in the state especially members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, to join millions of Rivers citizens and residents in their support for the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
This was as he declared that no one man can own Rivers State.
The chairman made the call in Port Harcourt, when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council paid him a courtesy visit.
The Obio/Akpor council boss was apparently referring to the rift between the governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminailayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which has plunged the state into political crisis for the past one year now.
“Continue to support his Excellency, the governor of Rivers State”, Amb. Ihunwo urged, saying; “The governor means well for Rivers State. You can attest to that fact that the governor has done a lot of projects and commissioned a project without being on Channels TV, without bringing AIT, without dancing.
“The governor is a silent achiever. The governor is not like other people who will come, they build small toilet, they’ll call Channels, people will start clapping. Our governor is a man, he’s developing Rivers State gradually, we are moving forward.
According to the chairman, nobody can own Rivers State as personal property or estate, no matter how highly placed.
He accused the FCT Minister of trying to rule Rivers State by proxy from Abuja, which he said is not possible.
The chairman; “You saw what happened in Ikwerre local government, Emuoha, you can’t try it in Obio/Akpor Local Government, we will resist you. You can’t try it.
“Like I said before, nobody can burn any building here. If you try it, we’ll burn your investment, that’s the simple truth”.
He warned that any attempt to burn any government property in Obio/Akpor will be resisted and such person will pay dearly for it. This, he said include losing his private investment, among others.
“You can’t come and burn government building that you did contribute, it’s not your personal money or your father’s money. You want to come and put it on fire and people are clapping, Nigerians are clapping.
“But, as a local government, as a state, you people are residing here, you all know what we are passing through that one man wants to own our state and most of your colleagues are part of those who are promoting the person who wants to own Rivers State.
“Let me also say that Rivers State is too big for one man to own and that is why we are here to defend our people,”he declared.
Amb Chijioke Ihunwo assured the people that his administration has liberated Obio/Akpor, and shall sustain the tempo till eight years of Governor Fubara’s administration.
He urged Correspondents’ Chapel to continue to support the current state administration, pointing out that anybody that is against Governor Fubara’s administration, is against his leadership as Obio/Akpor council chairman.
“Anybody who is fighting Governor Fubara is fighting Obio/Akpor local government,” he stressed.
The chairman promised to partner the Correspondents’ Chapel, provided they are doing the right thing through objective reporting.
In his remarks, chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Rivers State, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo congratulated the chairman on his emergence as the chairman from the October 5 local government elections.
He commended the chairman for his successful management of the affairs of the local government since he came on board.
Okonkwo, praised the chairman for copying Governor Fubara’s peaceful disposition and determination and commitment to protecting the assets of the local government from attacks and destruction.
He pledged the support of the Correspondents’ Chapel to the activities of the Obio/Akpor local government council urging the chairman to work for the good and benefit of the council and its people.
