As governor’s deputy, Ngozi joins APC
The Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress (RIPCON) has withdrawn support for Siminilayi Fubara, governor of the state.
Speaking on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika LGA of Rivers state, George Sekibo, chairman of the group, said the congress now backs Nyesome Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sekibo, a former senator, described Fubara as ungrateful, noting that he became governor through Wike’s support.
“Please don’t look at him and think we [Ijaw people] are all ungrateful people. Ijaw people are very grateful people,” Sekibo told Wike, who attended the meeting.
“That is why we abandoned him [Fubara] and said we will follow you. You have done so much for the Ijaw people in Rivers. Whatever you [Wike] say we should do — that is what we will do.
“We are grateful people, and that is why we are following you. We will not leave you because you have been there for us.”
Akuro Tobin, chairman of Okrika LGA, said Wike had supported residents to secure appointed and elective positions in the area.
In his remarks, he commended the people for their support and backing of President Bola Tinubu.
“It is not going to be business as usual. Allow us to play our game, and if there is any problem, call us to settle,” Wike said.
Wike had accused Fubara of reneging on the agreement they both signed before Tinubu lifted the emergency rule in Rivers.
On Friday, while addressing stakeholders in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of the state, Wike said Fubara’s support for Tinubu would not help him secure re-election, noting that he had backed Tinubu even before the governor joined the APC.
Ngozi Odu, Rivers deputy governor, joins APC
Ngozi Odu, deputy governor of Rivers state, has formally registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Odu registered at her ward in Akabuka town, ward 8, unit 11, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.
Shortly after completing the registration process, the deputy governor sang “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand”, a song popularly associated with President Bola Tinubu.
Her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) comes weeks after Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, also joined the APC following a meeting with Tinubu at the presidential villa.
Fubara was subsequently registered as a member of the party by Tony Okocha, the APC chairman in Rivers state, who said he acted on the directive of the party’s national secretariat.
Meanwhile, Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the APC, recently announced that Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers state.