A body of professionals under the aegis Rivers professionals (RivPro) has declared support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Siminialayi Fubara for the 2023 election.
The group said they were satisfied with the Governor Wike-led administration and are convinced that Fubara will consolidate its achievements.
The Convener of the group and member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Enemi George, said this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt.
Enemi said Rivers people have suffered due to the bad leadership in the state until the emergence of Wike in 2015.
According to him, the Wike-led government has changed the narratives and placed the state in the limelight of infrastructural development.
He said RivPro had looked at the credentials of the PDP governorship candidate and resolved that, as an astute administrator, he would serve as a leader.
“The government (of Nyesom Wike) has made us proud. If you look back, you would remember that there was time as a state, we were almost battered.
“But, a time came when we have a governor in the person of His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who wiped those tears; who bridged that gap that we had, who brought to bare an infrastructural revolution that is largely unprecedented.
“So, the question is, what happens when he leaves? Who is that person that can sustain that tempo? Who is that person that can build upon his (Wike) legacy and take us a step further as a state? Those were the questions that we asked ourselves,” Emeni said.
He noted that after thorough thinking, the professionals decided that, “there was one man that answered these questions, that suits all these profiles; one man that satisfies the vertical and horizontal expectations of Rivers people. It is in no other person than Sim Fubara.
“So, after due deliberation, we decided that, as a team, as a group, we endorse and support and work with and devote our time, talent, hard-earned resources, and specialties as well, in pursuing victory for Amaopusenibo Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
“We must not throw away the gains the state has made in the last seven years. Today, we have come to say we endorse Sim Fubara, as our governorship candidate.”
The convener charged the professionals to ensure that their relatives and associates key into the vision for the victory of their colleague in the forthcoming election.
The secretary of the group, Prince Onyekwere, said Rivers professionals take a keen interest in holding the government accountable.
“We make an objective assessment of government activities. Whether we like it or not, policies and programmes of the government give the direction of the government,” he noted.
In his remarks, the past chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Okrika, Golden Tamuno, their stance is part of the mission to articulate the position of professionals for leadership positions in the state.
