Now that the Rivers State Governor marks one year in office, amidst the political crises in the state sparked by his fall out with his political godfather and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The effect of the crises on the governor’s performance has been a subject of debate. Some critics believes that the crises distracted Governor Fubara and hindered the smooth running of his government. Others think otherwise.
In his acessment, the chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Rivers State Chijioke Ihunwo praised governor Fubara for steadying the ship after the trouble that almost rule him out of office. Chijioke Ihunwo told our reporter that he is particularly impressed that the governor was able to flag off and also commission some projects during the period under review. He said the governor has matched words with action as he has completed all ongoing projects that was abandoned and could not be paid for by the previous administration of chief Bar. Nyesom Wike, and in the agricultural sector, work is ongoing and also the rural road is ongoing. In terms of security, Chijioke Ihunwo said that the governor has provided vehicles for security agencies, and also, he is holding meetings to ensure that Rivers people are safe.
A human rights activist Bar. Godswill Obioma in an interview with our reporter said that the crises has acted as a catalyst to motivate the governor to work on his initiative and ideas. He said the governor was practically headed in the same direction with Nyesom Wike who concentrated a lot on road infrastructure and building of flyovers but with this crises, the governor had deviated from his plans and Rivers people are begining to see more civilised things like the just concluded Rivers State Economic Submit which tend to chart a course for a new economic climate for the state. He also gave the governor a pass mark on security. Bar. Godswill Obioma however advice the governor to reduce the confrontation, stating that he has showed himself enough and now need to ignore and concentrate. He also urge the governor to make Rivers State more attractive for investors especially in the area of tourism, agriculture and apiculture.
Also speaking, the chairman of Nigeria Medical Association in Rivers State Ebi Robinson highlighted some of the areas that received the governor’s attention in health sector. He said Heath workers who were stagnated for the past ten years have been promoted and have received their letters and taken fund accrued for all those ten years. He also said that the Secondary Health Care Delivery System which have been money bond has been rehabilitated, they are seeing the implementation of the Rivers State contributory health care protection programme and they are also experiencing employment of health care professionals across board. Dr. Robinson however advised that training of manpower should also be the focus.
Meanwhile, the chairman caretaker committee of the APC in Rivers State Tony Okocha scores governor Fubara minus zero in his first hundred days in office and described his first anniversary as a sham. He said governor Fubara is not only inconsistent but a plagiarist for taking glory for projects that were started and completed by his predesesor Nyesom Wike. Tony Okocha however accused the Fubara’s administration of ushering in horror and stagnation in the state. He said security is a suspect, company’s are leaving, industries are closing down because of the fear of the unknown. He further said that the only achievement of governor Fubara is the fact that he has transverse 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State in what he called Thanksgiving for supreme Court victory. Adding that each of those thanksgiving services cost a minimum of one hundred and fifty million naira which is a huge amount of money when you times it by 23.
