Tag: Fubara

Steady gunshots rented the air on Tuesday particularly within the headquarters of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area located along Moscow Road as youths and residents supporting Rivers Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, took over many councils’ headquarters. 

The protesting youths seized the headquarters and occupied them to stop the local government chairmen and other elected officials contesting tenure elongation from returning to their offices.

Though their tenures expired on Monday, June 17, the local government chairmen and supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, had threatened to remain in office for six months citing a new section inserted in the local government amendment Law by the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers.

Though the State High Court expunged the controversial section, the chairmen insisted that the law remained valid because the lawmakers were still contesting it at the appeal court. 

The Port Harcourt City LGA headquarters was hot on Tuesday morning as pro-Fubara youths, who stormed the area resisted attempts by heavily armed police squad to disperse them.

Police operatives reportedly fired steadily into the air to scare away the youths,.who had already mounted canopies and assembled plastic chairs to lay siege at the area.

One of the aggrieved youths, who spoke in confidence said they were at the secretariat to carry out a peaceful demonstration against the immediate past local government council chairmen, Allwell Ihunda.

He claimed that Ihunda  had vowed not to vacate his office despite the expiration of his tenure on June 17th adding that such threat prompted them to mobilise to stop from coming back to the headquarters.

But he alleged that policemen tried to disperse them and in the process started shooting at their direction.

He said: “We are Ijaw youths and are here on a peaceful demonstration against those whose tenure have expired but refused to vacate their office.

“We are not here to make trouble. We are just on a peaceful demonstration, but surprisingly the police started shooting at us.”

One of the leaders of Port Harcourt City youths identified simply as Ichemanti claimed that one of the protesting youths was shot by the police. 

But Rivers Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was informed of reports of gunshots in the area but said it was not from the police. 

Iringe-Koko said:  “It is not the police that is shooting. Our men have been deployed already to identify and apprehend those disturbing the peace. 

” As I speak to you now the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police are on patrol. Policemen that have been deployed there and they are visible. 

“We will ensure nobody takes the laws into their hands under our watch. The CP on Monday said the police are ready to do their job and that is what we are doing.”

In Obio-Akpor, Wike’s local government area, hundreds of the youths of the area led by Amb.Ihunwo Chijoke, an avowed Fubara’s  supporter, took over the council’s Secretariat.

The youths were seen singing in solidarity as they beat their drums describing Ihunwo as a man of excess power and capacity.

One of the youths said: “We have taking over the council. Wike must obey Sim. We are here with Amb. Chijoke Ihunwo, to totally take over the council”.

At Eleme Local Government Area, youths marched in their numbers to seize their council’s Secretariat saying no to tenure elongation.

One Chief Ebieemere Gokpa, who was seen addressing the crowd, claimed that their chairman out of fear had escaped to Canada. We will remain here until the Rivers Governor gives further directive.

Youths loyal to Chibuike Peter and Gift Okere were also seen marching and singing to their Oyigbo council’s Secretariat as they warned the elected officials seeking tenure elongation to steer clear.

Ahoada East and Emohua youths were not left behind in the takeover bid as their youths occupied their councils’ secretariats. 

At Emohua, one of the youths said the secretariat remained their collective property and no single person should lay claim to it.

He said: “This council does not belong to Chidi Lloyd. It belongs to all of us. We don’t have electricity for three years. We are calling on the governor to integrate our council in his political movement. We are here if you want to kill us we are ready to die”.

At Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, the pro-Fubara youths took over the council’s secretariat saying they would only hand it over to the incoming interim management team.

Same scenarios played out at Asari-Toru, Ahoada East, Ogu-Bolo, where various pro-Fubara leaders including the Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, who hails from Ahoada East, led youths to seize the councils’ secretariat.

It was, however, gathered that the state governor had compiled list of Interim Management Team (IMT) for the local government areas to be forwarded to the lawmakers led by Speaker Oko-Jumbo for screening and confirmation.

A source close to the Government House mentioned some of the IMT chairpersons as Promise Reginald, Omuma;  David Omereji, Emohua; Darlington Orji, Ikwerre; Evans Bipi, Ogu-Bolu; Ihunwo Chijioke, Obio-Akpor and Orolosama Amachree, Asari-Toru.

Loyalists of Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, have told the local government chairmen and other councils’ elected officials to prepare to vacate their offices on Monday.

The supporters under the aegis of the Supreme Council for Sim Worldwide (SCSW) rejected the move to extend the tenures of the LG chairmen.

Reading their position at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Co-Chairman of the group, Ambassador Oji Ngofa, asked Fubara to send the names of the caretaker committee chairmen for local government areas to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers for screening and confirmation.

Ngofa said: “The tenure of local government councils ends on June 17, 2024. The Supreme Council for SIM Worldwide denounces the local council chairmen that disrespect the office and person of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“We reject as unconstitutional the attempted elongation of the tenure of local councils by the Martins Amaewhule-led former lawmakers.

“We reject any attempt by the current chairmen and councilors not to vacate office at the expiration of their legitimate tenures on June 17, 2024.

“We call on Governor Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS to send the names of caretaker committee chairmen and women to the Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo-led authentic Rivers State House of Assembly for confirmation.”

Ngofa said SCSW was formed as a socio-political group with membership drawn across various political parties within and outside the country to mobilise support for the governor.

Read Also: 100 pro-democracy groups laud Tinubu, Fubara

He said members of the group had formally affirmed their unalloyed support and loyalty to Governor Simnalayi Fubara and dedicated themselves to the service of Rivers State.

He described the governor’s one year in office as successful, visionary and dogged, saying Fubara had set a new standard for governance of Rivers.

He said: “We congratulate the governor for the disbursement of N4 billion to over 3,000 Rivers State entrepreneurs and the hosting of the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024 immediately after the disbursement, aimed at enhancing the economy of the state.

“We applaud the governor for the equanimity with which he conducts the affairs of the state. The Supreme Council for SIM Worldwide salutes the Governor on the implementation of people-centered programmes since assuming office; promotion of civil servants and payment of workers’ salaries, pensioners’ arrears and gratuities besides other welfare packages made available to the civil servants.”

Ngofa scored Fubara high on infrastructure, saying he completed inherited projects and initiated new ones such as the Aleto-Ebubu (Old Bori) Road, the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, the Emohua-Kalabari (Tema Junction) Road, the Ogoni-Andoni Unity Road, among others.

On the crisis rocking Rivers State, he said: “In the past months, especially since October 2023, the state has been engulfed in political crisis orchestrated by a handful of persons who have decided to put themselves above the collective interest of the people.

“The Supreme Council for SIM Worldwide condemns the attempt to micromanage the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara.

“We reject in totality all insinuations that Governor Siminalayi Fubara betrayed the trust of his predecessor by reneging on pre-election agreements.

“Rivers State is not a one-man estate. We applaud the governor for demonstrating loyalty to the Rivers people and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He added: “The Supreme Council for SIM Worldwide believe that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is God-sent and he has performed creditably.

“We call on him not to be deterred and continue with his policy of putting Rivers State first.

“We call on Rivers people to continue their solid support for the governor and resist politicians who are bent on removing him from office because they are unable to ‘pocket’ him.

“On our part, we are determined to work with patriotic groups (across party lines all over Nigeria and in the Diaspora) to ensure a conducive and peaceful environment for good governance and development of our dear State, Rivers State.”

The president of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has lamented the rift between Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Okaba also said the INC is only committed to ensuring peace, unity, and development in the entire Ijaw nation including Rivers.

The INC boss spoke yesterday when Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress (RIPCO) led a delegation of its leaders to hold a crucial meeting with the INC leadership at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

The crucial meeting on the political developments in Rivers also had in attendance leaders of the Ijaw umbrella youth body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

Okaba said the INC would work closely with any organisation that would benefit the Ijaw nation, describing Ijaw interest as paramount.

He said the INC was not happy that the Ijaw people were divided over the political crisis in Rivers, insisting that Ijaws could be strong even in diversity of political affiliations.

Okaba said: “We will support any group that will benefit Ijaw people. In the same manner, we are going to fight any group that is against the progress of the Ijaw nation.

“Ijaw Nation is grateful to Wike for working for an Ijaw man to lead Rivers State. We don’t hate him.

Read Also: Detractors sabotaging my government, Fubara alleges

“We also recall the efforts of Ijaw people in Wike’s political journey, especially his emergence as governor.

“There was a time INC spokesman responded to a northern group that lambasted Wike. We said we cannot allow people to attack any Niger Delta leader for no just cause while we are here. The mandate of INC is to protect the interest of the Ijaw people. And it will remain so.

“We must come together because our unity is our strength. I believe we can be strong even in diversity. But let’s not fight ourselves.

“You are free to be loyal to Wike since he has been good to you. Ijaw people are very grateful people. We have been helped and we are also helping.

“However, let’s not in any way frustrate Sim Fubara. He is the undisputed Governor of Rivers State.

“So while we are calling for peace and appreciating the godfather (Wike) who brought him, the Governor deserves our respect. You have to protect him because he is our son.”

The Professor of Sociology warned that the Rivers political feud could worsen if not properly managed.

Earlier, the Leaders of the RIPCO delegation, Senator Alabo George Sekibo and Hon. Boma Iyaye said there was a need for the INC to maintain neutrality in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers.

They told the INC that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, had demonstrated his love for the Ijaw nation contrary to claims in some quarters arising from the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

They said the narrative that Wike hated the Ijaws was not true, noting that out of his love, Wike gave more federal appointments he attracted to Rivers to Ijaw leaders and recalled that during his administration as the governor, he appointed Ijaw people into strategic positions.

Specifically, Sekibo said though the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara had problems with his benefactor, Wike, the governor had not told the Ijaw nation the reasons for their feud.

He said Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress was interested in the unity amongst Ijaw people and rancour-free collaborations with other ethnic nationalities in the state.

Sekibo emphasized that without the cooperation of other ethnic groups in the state, the Ijaw, as a minority group in Rivers, would not win elections in the state.

He said: “Ijaws are minorities in Rivers State. We can’t win elections on our own. We have to work with other ethnicities in Rivers State.

“Wike does not despise Ijaw people contrary to claims in some quarters. Five out of the nine federal appointments he facilitated to Rivers State were given to Ijaw leaders.

“As a group, Sim is our governor. We are not fighting him. But we will keep praying for him for wisdom. We believe he is being distracted.”

Sekibo appealed to the Okaba-led INC not to take sides in the crisis but to work assiduously to resolve the current political misunderstanding in the state for the good of the Ijaw nation.

Auditors-General of local government areas have declared that Rivers State is peaceful and calm despite reports of political crisis rocking the state.

The Conference of Auditors-General of Local Governments in Nigeria (CAGLG) spoke on Tuesday, June 4, after paying a visit to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The Auditors-General in Port Harcourt for their 28th National Conference ongoing in Rivers state.

The chairman of the Conference of Auditors-General for local governments in Nigeria, Atiku Musa, who led the delegation spoke after meeting the governor behind closed doors.

A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, quoted Musa as saying that his exposure to some unfriendly projections that created an impression that was quite different from the realities on ground.

Musa, who is also the Auditor-General for local governments, Kaduna State, said it was much better to experience Rivers State in person to have the correct perception of its people, of the comforting peaceful atmosphere and rich hospitality.

He said: “The discussion is centred on our Annual Conference which is the 28th Conference that is being held here by Rivers State Governor. So, we are here to thank him for accepting to host the conference on behalf of the Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments.

“We appreciate him. He has done a very wonderful thing. We told him that we found Rivers State peaceful and accommodating, and I appreciate their hospitality.

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“You know, when you read newspapers, the news your are hearing, you will see different things. But when I came into Rivers State, I found out that the State is very peaceful.”

Musa expressed appreciation to Fubara for agreeing to host the conference in Rivers State, saying it availed them the opportunity to interact among themselves towards achieving their purpose.

He said: “This conference was scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt two years ago, but we don’t know the problem until this administration came into being, and the Governor accepted to host the conference on behalf of the Conference of Auditors-General for local governments.

“And the good thing is that he is also an accountant, so we appreciate that. You know accountants are good managers.

“I really appreciate the government, people and the Governor of Rivers State for their hospitality. Since we arrived here, we have been accommodated, we have been taken care of, so it’s wonderful.”

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has alleged desperate and spirited efforts by detractors to sabotage his administration and frustrate the delivery of good governance and quality services to the State.

Fubara also clarified that the present administration would not go into the completion of the monorail project initiated by the Chibuike Amaechi-led government, except a serious private sector investor decided to commit resources to the project under a well-defined private public partnership arrangement.

Fubara emphasised that he would want to be remembered by not just the signature road projects with legacy bridges and flyovers, but sustainable impact human capital and manpower development as well as other critical infrastructural landmarks to bridge the healthcare and education gaps in the state.

He spoke  while addressing officers of the Standing Committee and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors led by the NGE President, Eze Anaba, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.

Also on the delegation were chief executive officers, heads of stations, editors, heads and managers of news of other media outfits located in the Rivers State capital, as well as leaders of the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists and Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Rivers State Independent Publishers’ Association (RIVPA).

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The Governor explained that detractors were desperately attempting to frustrate and embarrass the state government’s dogged efforts to provide the dividends of democracy to the people on whose mandate it was striving to legitimately and constitutionally serve the interest of the State.

Fubara listed attempts to scuttle the process of governance in the state, including the clandestine calls to some key speakers and prominent personalities invited to participate at the just-concluded Rivers Economic and Investment Summit not to associate with his administration or participate in the programme designed to reposition the state for robust investments and progressive economic rejuvenation.

The  Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Nelson Chukwudi said that it took the courage of some of the speakers and invited guests to honour the government and participate fully in the programme. 

He also drew the editors’ attention to efforts to frustrate the revival and completion of the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre just kicked-off  at Iriebe in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area about a month ago by cajoling the previous contractors, who had abandoned the project due to lack of support to sue the state government to court to derail the project.

He noted that this was after his administration had settled and paid off the initial contractors engaged by the previous administration on the project, adding that because of the reputation and integrity of the contractors, they declined to follow the path of dishonour and sabotage of the greater good and interest of the State.

Fubara also highlighted the challenges faced by the government on the construction of the 20,000 housing units in Mgbodo-Aluu axis of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development area in Ikwerre Local Government, saying that the investors in the project had faced litigations from land grabbers sponsored by opposition elements targeting to scuttle the government.

He explained that the massive lands duly acquired and paid for by the Chibuike Amaechi-led administration at the area had been deliberately encroached on by sponsored land grabbers, who had emerged to claim ownership of the lands and had already instituted no fewer than 52 litigations against the government for lands the government had paid for many years ago.

Fubara emphasised that despite the many deliberate sabotage efforts and political crisis engineered by his detractors, his administration remained focused on the ball, and consciously recorded significant successes within its one year in office but four months of full control of governance of the State.

He said:  “Rivers People First” mantra of his administration, saying that he expend Rivers money to deliver quality services and good governance to Rivers people, and not one individual or group of few desperate politicians angling to satisfy their selfish desires and ambitions.

“We are a government legitimately and constitutionally constituted in the State. It is our duty to carry out the function and act of governance properly. But somehow, we have some issues which I won’t want to dwell on. 

“Like I said, we have to move on, and moving on is where we are today. By the special grace of God, we have recorded successes. We might not have gotten it the way it would have been, if everything was fine. It takes a government that is courageous to do what we have done,” given our circumstances.

He noted that at the inception of his administration a year ago, strategies were put in place to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State, adding that good money was saved which is being committed to landmark projects that are now ongoing in the State.

The governor explained that his administration decided to execute key signature projects that had been avoided by previous administrations because their impact would add significant value to the lives of the people and spike the revenue profile of the State to enable it bounce back as a buoyant economic hub and compete favourably with Lagos, including deepening its potential in the blue economy.

He listed such ‘trunk A’ projects as the expansive 50:51km Port Harcourt Ring Road project, traversing six local government areas of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Elele, and Okrika, with a river crossing, six flyovers, over 12 roundabouts and interchanges; the 12km original Trans-Kalabari Road, connecting Port Harcourt City to the three Kalabari local governments of Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, and Degema, with many bridges; as well as the 33.5km Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, with many bridges also.

The Governor said that out of the whopping sum of N195billion total cost, excluding compensation, 77 percent of the sum amounting to N147billion has been paid to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc handling the Port Harcourt Ring Road, with significant work already done from six sections of the projects.

He also noted that the Trans-Kalabari Road project, which was flagged-off by former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 20, would cost a total of N225.1billion, out of which 30 percent, amounting to N67billion has been paid upfront to facilitate mobilization and fast-track construction work in the difficult deltaic terrain.

The Governor further stated that the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project would cost the government a staggering N80.8billion, out of which N40.4billion, representing 50 percent of the contract sum has been paid, adding that the government decided to award contract for the road to save lives of people from that axis of the State from criminal gangs, open up the area to increase business activities and connectivity while facilitating communication of the people through land routes to Imo State.

Fubara stressed that apart from the Port Harcourt Ring Road, which was being funded from loan facility, the three key projects of Trans-Kalabari Road, Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, and the Okania-Ogbogoro Road, also costing over N6billion, were being funded with savings accruing from IGR and federation accounts allocations over the last one year.   

The Governor added that over 34 projects inherited from the immediate past administration had been completed, while others were being expedited for completion, adding that his administration would turn around infrastructure in the healthcare and education sectors in the next six months.

He lamented the dearth of primary and secondary healthcare facilities as well as decent education development infrastructure across the local governments, and assured that in no distant time, his government would transform both sectors for the good of the people of the State in line with its policy thrust of the People First.

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to work with the Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, to legally sustain all his beliefs in the Niger Delta region.

The governor also told the King of Okochiri in Okirika, Ateke Tom, that he would continue to identify with him and appreciated the king for standing with his government.

The governor spoke at different receptions organized to mark the 60th birthday anniversaries of Dokubo and King Ateke Tom in Port Harcourt and Okochiri Town in Okirika.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi reinstated his commitment to completing all ongoing development projects in Kalabari land but solicited the support of stakeholders in the area against any act of sabotage.

Fubara said that he decided to execute the Trans-Kalabari Road, an extension of the Emohua-Tema Junction road to Abonnema, and sand-filled in Abonnema and Kula towns, amongst others, because the projects would greatly enhance connectivity, ease mobility and improve commerce in the area.

The governor said he did not only want to be remembered for what he would do in Opobo Town, but by the extent of development that he would champion across the state.

He said: “You were listing out a few projects that we are already embarking on in Kalabari land, and maybe one or two others that we intend to commence.

“I am not from that ethnic group but I know the importance of the Trans-Kalabari road and others. That is why I delved into doing the projects.

“I believe strongly that I will not only be remembered for what I do for my people in Opobo but what I do in every part of the State.

“So, I will appreciate your support. Mentioning those projects here means you are in support. And I believe that the Kalabari Ethnic Group will give us all that is required to make sure that we succeed in those projects.”

Addressing Dokubo: he said:  “I do not have any gift to give you but I will assure you that, as a government, we will work with you, we will support you to make sure that all that you believe in, will be sustained legally.

“I am wishing you the best because at this particular time in our country, in our State, all we owe ourselves and the good people of our State and our neighbours is to jointly encourage each other to support the development of our State genuinely.”

Fubara said he was dumbfounded to know that Alhaji Dokubo, was born into comfort, but eventually chose a path that often confined him in the forest pursuing justice, equity, and empowerment of deprived communities that had shaped the Niger Delta’s struggle.

He said: “So, we will continue to work together for our State to make sure that we change the development landscape of our State. I am happy with the joy on your faces, there is no tension here.

“That is how leadership should be. It should be a process where you don’t need to force the respect on or demand the love. They should come on their own, and when it is so, on its own, it will last forever.

“The ones that are being forced, once one is out power or place of authority, it won’t be there again.

“We have to bring our State back to that place that we used to be. Love, unity used to be one of the things we are noted for. We are going to make sure that we do it with the help of everyone that is here.”

In his speech, the celebrant, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, said he never knew he would live to mark 60 years, given the travails, persecution and confinement in the custody of Department of State Service (DSS) Headquarters, for 12 months and 11 days.

Dokubo expressed gratitude to Fubara for honouring him with his presence, saying that he never forgot acts of kindness shown to him while also pledging continued support to ensure the success of his administration.

Read Also: Fubara: We will remain eternally grateful to Wike, says Rivers Ijaw

At the reception of Ateke Tom in Okochiri, Fubara declared that nothing less than resounding success would be reckoned with his administration in the provision of social services, critical projects, and sustenance of peace across the State.

He said: “I identify with you, King Ateke Tom, and I want to appreciate you for standing with us. Like I had said, the worst is over concerning the political crisis. What we are doing today is moving forward and advancing our State. And I am happy that you are one of my allies.

“I assure you the only thing that will be associated with our administration is success, success and more success,” he said.

Fubara noted with delight that King Ateke Tom was not merely celebrating with drinks and foods distributed to friends but had actually included God in the event with an expression of gratitude to Him for the blessings bestowed on him.

He said: “We as a government, it is our duty to make sure that we support our own, more especially when you are contributing to peace and development of our State.

“When one marks 40, we say thank God. Somebody has marked 50, and by the special grace of God, King Ateke Tom is celebrating 60. So, I want to thank God for his life because it is only possible through God.”

Fubara said looking at the life and time of King Ateke Tom, it was a miracle for him to have lived this long.

He said: “So, I am happy to tell you that we will continue to stand by you. Let me thank everyone that is here who has come to celebrate with our brother.

“Thank you for coming to support him. I know that as a man, nobody is perfect, but in his own little way, he tries as much as he can, to make peace his major gift to the people of Okrika. I know and I don’t need to be told how much he spends to make sure he makes people happy”.

Governor Fubara, who wished King Ateke Tom more glorious years on the throne, urged him to continue to promote peace and development not only in the Okochiri Kingdom but in the entire Okrika land.

He said: “I am happy to identify with our brother. He is celebrating three things. Firstly, his birthday; secondly, the special honour by the great people of Okrika and Okochiri; and thirdly, the one that they said I did. I didn’t do it as a person, it is the Office of the Governor that honoured him,” he emphasised.

In his welcome address, former Minister of Transport and chairman of the occasion, Chief Abiye Sekibo, said the reception was auspicious.

Chief Sekibo, who expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his presence, said as one of them, the Okrika people had resolved to sustain support for the governor to ensure that he succeeded in government.