•IYC vows not to allow crisis in state •Despite crisis, my govt has achieved more, Fubara declares
A group under the aegis of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), United States of America (U.S.A), yesterday, urged the people of Rivers State to rally behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara and reject alleged machinations of those seeking to impose godfatherism upon them.
The organisation warned of the dire consequences of succumbing to such political machinations, saying that it could erode the fabric of society and imperil the democratic experiment in Nigeria.
Speaking in a statement, the President of the association, Lloyd Ukwu, urged the people of Rivers State to collectively and massively support Fubara’s administration and resist, by any legal means necessary, alleged efforts of President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor Nyesome Wike to institutionalise godfatherism.
He said: “We vehemently denounce recent efforts by Wike to entrench godfatherism within the political settings of Rivers State. We stand in full support of Fubara in his resolute stance against this insidious form of political corruption.
“Godfatherism, a nefarious practice wherein powerful individuals manipulate the political arena by handpicking less influential candidates to serve their interests, poses a grave threat to democracy, transparency and the rule of law.
“NADECO U.S.A underscores the dire consequences of allowing such practices to take root in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers state, which include circumventing term limits, perpetuating power imbalances, and shielding individuals with dubious pasts from accountability.”
MEANWHILE, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has vowed that it won’t allow the current political turbulence in Rivers to plunge the state into crisis.
The council stated this in a communiqué issued, yesterday, at the end of a one-day peace and security summit convened by the IYC with leaders of various youth bodies from different ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta.
It said the summit, which was held on May 17, 2024, was aimed to unite all youth groups from the diverse ethnic nationalities of the region. The communiqué was jointly signed by IYC National President, Alaye Theophilus, President, Bayelsa Youth Association, Doupere Precious, President, Ibom Youth Council, Lord Knight, among other presidents of national youth groups.
The group noted that the state is critical to both the region and the nation, and as such, cannot stand idle and watch, while it descends into crisis.
ALSO, Fubara has said that governance began in the state three months ago due to the political crisis. The governor said this during the official inauguration of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project, in Ngo Town, Andoni Local Council of the state on Saturday. He noted that despite the delay, his government had achieved better projects and service delivery than the eight-year government of some other administrations.
