21st July, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said it was easy for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to win the 2023 elections in Rivers because of the intense presence of the party across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Fubara spoke when members of Inter- Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) in Rivers led by its Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, paid him a courtesy visit to him at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Fubara told Akawor who is also the chairman of PDP that the overwhelming victory of the party at the last governorship elections in Rivers was also due to early preparations.
He said, “Before the elections, we started a programme to buy into the new electoral law signed by the former President, we were prepared for the elections, it’s only our party, the PDP that went round the 23 LGAS to sensitize the people, not only to register but collect their PVCs, IPAC was part of that process, what we have now is a product of that earlier preparations, we wouldn’t have succeeded if we hadn’t created a contact with the people. ”
“I’m happy that you are here, we are working towards laying the right foundation for the development of the state, and we will work together for the best interest of the state, as one family”, he noted.
Fubara, however, cautioned against politics of bitterness, saying his administration will be open to constructive criticisms to deliver on its key mandate of protection of lives and property and improved welfare of Rivers people.
He said with the elections over, it is now the joint responsibilities of all stakeholders in the state to join hands to promote the business of governance, while assuring that he will run an accommodating and all inclusive administration.
Earlier in his address, the secretary of IPAC, Omangima Harry, had on behalf of the body, congratulated the governor over his victory at the last governorship elections in Rivers State, and expressed confidence in his ability to deliver good governance in the state.
He said the election that brought him to power was devoid of violence that had previously marred electoral processes in the state.
He also noted that the governor has started on a good note with the kick- off of the monumental Port Harcourt Ring Road project.
The IPAC secretary also hinted that the emergence of Sir Fubara from the Rivers South East Senatorial District, which was yet to produce a governor, has brought political justice in the state.