Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has firmly responded to remarks made by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, stating that while he will always stand for what is right, he won’t sacrifice his “liver or kidney” for anyone in the name of loyalty.
This statement was seen as a direct response to Wike’s claims of betrayal, which the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister made during an event organized by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Rivers State.
Speaking on Sunday at an inter-denominational church thanksgiving service marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Port Harcourt, Fubara emphasized his commitment to doing the right thing, even if it means standing alone.
“As a matter of fact, I belong to that school of thought that if I am the only person that needs to stand on that side of right, I will stand there. I don’t need anybody to stand with me. I cannot give my kidney or liver to anybody; I won’t. If that is the only reason for me to be loyal, I will not be. But, I will not do the wrong thing. I will stand for the side of right,” Fubara said.
Fubara also refuted allegations made by Wike, who accused him of being behind an attempt to bomb the venue of a civic reception organized by the Rivers Ijaw People’s Council in Port Harcourt. Fubara stressed that he has never instructed any security agency to engage in unlawful acts.
“There is no security agency in this state that I have called any day to do something wrong. I have never. I don’t have a need for it. But I know what they do, and they keep failing because God has left them,” the governor said.
The governor used the opportunity to highlight several projects his administration has embarked on, while addressing claims from Wike that he hasn’t achieved much since taking office. Fubara pointed out that he had done more in one year than what Wike accomplished in his eight-year tenure as Rivers State governor.
Mocking Wike, Fubara said, “They even say they don’t know what we are doing. Let me remind them, it is Fubara that signed the paper to borrow N200 billion from Zenith Bank for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project. I am the one building the General Hospital, which I also included a Psychiatric Hospital because they will need it very soon. What I did in one year is what they did in 8 years.”
In another veiled dig at Wike, Fubara remarked that those making noise for recognition have lost relevance. “Anybody that is making noise for recognition, it is a sign that he has lost it. By the special grace of God, I don’t need an introduction. I have the name, and I am the one standing here,” he added.
Despite the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fubara reaffirmed his loyalty to the party, stating that he remains a member and will continue to lead with the interests of the people at heart.
“As a matter of fact, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). When you emerge [in elections], our major concern is the people. Care for the people. We have taken Rivers State into a different driveway,” Fubara concluded.
The back-and-forth between Fubara and Wike continues to draw attention, as political tensions rise in Rivers State.
