The National President of South South Youths Initiative, Comrade Saviour Imeabe, has hailed the defection of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a welcome and strategic development that will enable the governor attract more federal projects and deliver greater dividends of democracy to the people.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Comrade Imeabe described the governor’s move to the ruling party as “a plus and a positive one” for Rivers State, insisting that it provides Fubara the platform to reverse the setbacks suffered by the state in recent times.
“We want to see His Excellency’s defection as one of those burning desires to perform and deliver the dividends of governance to our people. Rivers State has gone backward in the last few years, but this defection gives him another golden opportunity to provide the leadership we have been expecting,” he said.
The youth leader, however, charged Governor Fubara to immediately commence reconciliation of the factionalised APC in the state, urging him to unite all tendencies under one umbrella for the overall interest of Rivers people.
Comrade Imeabe further declared that with the defection, Governor Fubara has automatically become the undisputed leader of APC in Rivers State, stressing that every party member, irrespective of federal appointment or position, must accord him maximum respect and loyalty.
“You cannot claim loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu without first being loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Whether you are the FCT Minister, local government chairman, state or national assembly member, once you are APC and from Rivers State, the governor is now your leader. Your loyalty to Mr. President must pass through the governor,” he insisted.
Comrade Imeabe also appealed to Governor Fubara to use the yuletide to put smiles on the faces of Rivers people through people-oriented programmes and gestures.
