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With the Presidential and National Assembly elections out of the way, attention now focuses on states’ preparations for their governorship and state houses of assembly polls slated for March 11.
This gives citizens the chance to elect those who will lead the affairs of their respective states for the next four years.
To ensure the success of the elections, citizens are encouraged to be mindful of their civic duty and vote wisely.
A group, Better Rivers, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Pecious James said in Rivers State, the people are ready and solidly behind the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, who, according to them, is the right man to succeed Governor Nyesom Wike.
He said the state remains a vital part of a greater Nigeria.
“In fact, Rivers is a vital state for Nigeria’s economy. Rivers is famous for its vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas. It was perhaps the richest and most significant section of the African zone of the British Empire. Rivers has two major oil refineries, two major seaports, airports, and various industrial estates spread across the land.
The state is a hub for the manufacturing, agro-industrial, and petrochemical industries.
In addition, the state has an abundance of agricultural resources, which are essential for Nigeria’s economy, as they help to drive job creation, increase exports, and bolster growth.
That is the extent of the significance of Rivers to Nigeria’s economic status in Africa, and the world.
That is why it has become imperative who becomes the next governor of the state, taking over from Nyesom WIke, whose performance has been assessed and judged as surpassing expectations by political pundits.”
He said Wike has earned a reputation for being a leader who is not afraid to stand up for what is right, and speak out against any form of injustice, even when it is unpopular. “His uncompromising stance on the protection of his people’s rights and his commitment to providing them with quality services has earned him the respect and admiration of Rivers’ people.
Wike takes a firm stance against corruption and has been relentless in his efforts to ensure that the state’s resources are put to efficient use and that the people of Rivers are not taken advantage of.
He has also ensured that the people have access to basic amenities such as healthcare, quality education, and improved infrastructure.”
The group said Fubara is Wike’s preferred candidate to carry on his legacy after he leaves office and that the whole Rivers is behind him.
“In him we see a competent and capable leader who shares similar political ideals and values with Wike, making him a natural choice to succeed.
We all remember how Wike inherited a Rivers that was in shambles, with a comatose economy, and poorly negotiated projects and programs.
It took him time to dismantle these structures of underdevelopment.
Today, the narrative has changed for the better. He implemented a number of reforms to increase transparency and accountability in the government, as well as focused on improving infrastructure and upgrading the state’s economy.
As a result, the state has seen a marked improvement in its economic performance and quality of life for its people. That is what we see in Fubara. He will definitely deliver.
We remember how the same Fabura was instrumental in developing a comprehensive plan for the state that covered both short-term and long-term goals.
He worked closely with Wike to make sure that the goals were achieved and that the state was able to generate enough revenue to fund these projects.
He was also part of the team that was able to effectively manage insecurity in the state.
An enlightened electorate would readily vote for a candidate who understands the system as opposed to one who is merely coming to experiment and start taking the state backward,” he said.
