President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Dr Alaye Theophilus, has defended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a necessary step to restore peace, stability and development in the state after prolonged political turmoil.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Dr Theophilus said Governor Fubara made it clear that his decision to join the ruling party at the centre was driven by the need to align Rivers State with the federal government and end the instability that had followed the 2023 general elections.
According to him, “Rivers State, from after the 2023 election to date, has undergone a lot of political crisis and instability, which to a larger extent affected governance and the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.”
He said as a democratically elected governor with a four-year mandate, Fubara considered it his responsibility to do “whatever he can as an individual to ensure that Rivers State is relatively peaceful or even 100 per cent peaceful, so that the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” adding that this conviction informed his move to the APC.
Theophilus also credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for helping to stabilise the state during its most challenging period, noting that the President “showed genuine commitment to sustaining peace in Rivers State by not taking sides and by bringing the affected parties to the peace table.” He said the governor’s action was taken in the best interest of Rivers people and reflected their collective will, pointing to what he described as visible public approval during the governor’s recent project inspections and engagements.
“The happiness on the faces of Rivers people shows that he is accepted,” he said, adding that the governor’s decision to support President Tinubu’s administration was also aimed at ensuring the success of the President’s renewal agenda.
Reacting to concerns about tensions between the governor and some lawmakers, Dr Theophilus dismissed claims that the governor was obliged to “carry along” legislators through contracts or patronage. “Lawmakers are not contractors,” he said, stressing that beyond constitutionally recognised constituency projects and allowances, there was no basis for such demands.
He questioned calls for the resubmission of the 2025 budget, arguing that a budget already approved by the National Assembly could not be resubmitted. “If there is any need for a supplementary budget, it is within the prerogative of the governor,” he said, adding that some of the criticisms appeared driven by personal grievances rather than the collective interest of Rivers people.
Theophilus warned against actions that could reopen old wounds in the state, recalling a period of stagnation during past political crises. “Today, peace has been restored, the organs of government are functioning again, and we are still seeing people trying to beat the drum of war,” he said, urging political actors to prioritise peace, stability and development above personal interests.
He reaffirmed the full support of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide for Governor Fubara, expressing confidence in the governor’s ability to manage dissent and maintain stability. “The governor is a peace-loving person, and he will definitely know how to manage the situation,” he said, while calling on all stakeholders to rally behind the administration for the benefit of Rivers State.
Boluwatife Enome
Follow us on:
, describing the move as a necessary</p>
){kind=link}