THERE ARE UNTOLD STORIES IN OUR RECENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE THAT MUST BE TOLD, PERHAPS TO PRESENT AS PANACEA TO THE TEETHING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEDEVILED OUR STATE IF THE GLADIATORS AGREE WITH/TO THEM.
THESE STORIES ARE EITHER MUMBLED JUMBLED IN PUBLIC DOMAIN TO SOOTHE THE NARRATIVE OF JAUNDICED/BIAS AUTHORS OR THERE IS DEARTH/SCARCE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC DOMAIN ON THE TRUTHS.
I SHALL SUCCINCTLY, BRISKLY AND APTLY PUT THE UNTAINTED FACTS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY UNTRUTH AS MAY BE UNCOVERED WITH COUNTER~EXAMPLES.
*(1) GOVERNOR FUBARA IS MINISTER WIKE’S POLITICAL INVESTMENT IN RIVERS STATE:*
CONSIDER THESE TRUISMS:
A. BEFORE THE GOVERNORSHIP OF CHIEF E.N.WIKE IN RIVERS STATE, MR SIMINALAYE JOSEPH FUBARA WAS A STAFF OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, RIVERS STATE.
UPON ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE AS GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE, CHIEF WIKE FOR WHATEVER CONSIDERATION, PROMOTED MR SIMINALAYE FUBARA TO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND ASSIGNED HIM TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
B. SOON AFTER, GOV. WIKE MANOURVRED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. FUBARA TO PERMANENT SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, STILL IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE FUNDS, OVER AND ABOVE HIS SENIORS IN THE RIVERS STATE CIVIL SERVICE.
C. NO SOONER HAD HE (FUBARA) ASSUMED OFFICE AS PERMANENT SECRETARY THAN GOVERNOR WIKE BROKE/CIRCUMVENTED CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND ETHOS, TO ANNOUNCE MR. FUBARA AS ACCOUNTANT ~GENERAL OF RIVERS STATE (THE APOGEE POINT OF HIS CARRIER). BY THAT POSITION, MR FUBARA BECAME A SIGNATORY TO THE RIVERS STATE ACCOUNTS, BONAFIDE.
D. NOT YET DONE, GOVERNOR WIKE PROPPED UP MR. FUBARA TO SUCCEED HIM IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE.
PDP GOVERNORSHIP FORMS WERE PURCHASED BY GOVERNOR WIKE AND DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE WHO INDICATED INTERESTS AND WARNED THAT TO AVOID RANCOUR AND ACRIMONY IN THE PARTY AND INDEED, FOR THE INTEREST OF THE UNITY OF THE PARTY, NO ASPIRANT WAS PERMITTED TO CAMPAIGN, ONLY AWAIT THE DECISION OF THE ELDERS’ COUNCIL.
ALL ASPIRANTS, MADE UP OF FORMER GOVERNORS, DEPUTY SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FORMER AND SERVING SECRETARY TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PDP RIVERS, ETC., PRESENTED THEMSELVES BEFORE THE ELDERS COUNCIL AND WERE SCREENED.
FUNNY ENOUGH, THE ONLY ASPIRANT WHO HAD NOT THE INFINITESIMAL EXPERIENCE IN THE SPHERE OF POLITICS IN RIVERS STATE, MR. FUBARA WAS PRODUCED AS HANDOUT TO THE ELDERS COUNCIL BY GOVERNOR WIKE.
NOTE: THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PDP ELDERS COUNCIL WAS GOVERNOR WIKE’S BRAINCHILD.
THE INSTRUCTION TO ASPIRANTS NOT TO CAMPAIGN WAS A SUBTERFUGE/DECOR TO ALLOW THE EMERGENCE OF THE ONE, MR. SIMINALAYE FUBARA WHO WAS NEVER A POLITICIAN.
SHOULD GOVERNOR WIKE AND PDP RIVERS HAD ALLOWED A PRIMARY ELECTION FOR ALL THE ASPIRANTS, MR. SIMINALAYE FUBARA WOULD HAVE BOARDED A DISTANT LAST POSITION (14/14)
THE EMERGENCE OF THE LIST QUALIFIED AN ILL~EXPERIENCED FUBARA, WAS A RESULT OF “POLITICAL PALACE COUP WITH GOVERNOR WIKE AS THE MOVIE DIRECTOR.
PDP RIVERS WAS IN CIRCUMSTANTIAL DIRE STRAIT.
NOT ALL THAT LOST IN THE “COUP”, TOOK IT KINDLY. FOR THEM, IF ANYONE OF THE PROLIFIC POLITICIANS THAT ASPIRED EMERGED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT NOT A TIRO AS MR. FUBARA.
THESE TEAM OF EXTREMELY AGGRIEVED ONES COINED A CLICHE “WE CANNOT AFTER SERVING THE MASTER, ALSO CONDESCEND TO SERVE THE MASTER’S BOY”.
TO THIS CLASS,, “IT WAS TO YOUR TENTS OH ISRAEL”!.
THEY LEFT THE MAINSTREAM PDP IN THE STATE AND FORMED ALLIANCE WITH THE HATER OF GOVERNOR WIKE AND ANYTHING THAT CONCERNED HIM IN PDP (FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ATIKU ABUBAKAR).
NIGERIANS ARE AWARE OF THE SUSTAINED POLITICAL RIVALRY BETWEEN ATIKU AND WIKE.
E. CAMPAIGNS FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN RIVERS STATE ENSUED. IT WAS A PLATFORM FOR CANDIDATES OF THE PARTIES TO TAKE THE SOAPBOX TO ESPOUSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES THEY INTEND TO PURSUE/EXECUTE, IF ELECTED INTO THE EXALTED OFFICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, RIVERS STATE PEOPLE WATCHED WITH CONSTERNATION AS CANDIDATE FUBARA WAS ONLY INVITED TO THE ROSTRUM, TO ONLY WAVE TO THE TEEMING CROWD OF SUPPORTERS OF THE PDP.
HIS DEFICIENCIES ARE WELL KNOWN, SO, HAVE TO BE COVERED.
F. GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN RIVERS STATE CAME ON THE 18TH OF MARCH, 2024. CANDIDATE FUBARA CLINCHED ALL THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN ALL THE 23 LGAS OF RIVERS STATE. IT WAS A NOVELTY!
IT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY!
23 OF THE CHAIRMEN OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS, INCLUDING 21 OF THEM THAT BECAME ENDANGERED SPECIES TWO WEEKS AFTER GOVERNOR SIMINALAYE FUBARA WAS SWORN~IN AS GOVERNOR, WERE FINAL COLLATION AGENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LGAS.
I RECALL THAT WHEN INEC FOOT~DRAGGED IN THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNORSHIP RESULTS, WHICH SIM FUBARA WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE WON SQUARE AND CLEAR, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN MOBILIZED PARTY SUPPORTERS IN DEMONSTRATION/PROTEST THAT TOOK OVER THE ABA ROAD, AROUND INEC OFFICE IN PORT HARCOURT FOR MANY DAYS UNTIL THE FINAL DECLARATION OF THE RESULT WAS MADE.
GOV. WIKE DID ALL WITHIN THE ARMBITS OF THE LAW AND DELIVERED MR. FUBARA AS GOVERNOR.
HE ENSURED THAT THE SWEARING ~IN AND TAKE-OVER WERE SEAMLESS.
WHEN CANDIDATES OF SOME OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES WHO CONTESTED THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION MADE TO THE ELECTION TRIBUNAL, GOV. WIKE HIRED AND PAID ALL THE VERY TALL LEGAL LUMINARIES FROM THE TRIBUNAL IN ABUJA STAGE TO THE SUPREME COURT.
NO NEW LAWYER WAS ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THE LEGAL TEAM AS ASSEMBLED.
THE COUNCIL CHAIRMEN LIVED UP TO THEIR BILLINGS OF PROVIDING WITNESSES AT THEIR COST TO ABUJA, AT THE TRIBUNAL STAGE.
QUESTIONS FOR GOV. FUBARA AND HIS CHEERLEADERS AND OBJECTIVE/DISPASSIONATE READERS HERE:
1- A COMBINED READING OF THE FEW INSIGHTS HERE, “IS IT RIGHT OR WRONG TO CONCLUDE THAT GOV. FUBARA IS MINISTER WIKE’S “POLITICAL INVESTMENT”?
ALAS, EVEN GOVERNOR FUBARA MAINTAINED AND SANG IT LIKE A REFRAIN AUDIBLY, THAT MINISTER WIKE IS HIS “OGA” (THAT MAY HAVE BEEN GONE WITH THE MEDIEVALS).
2- DOES AN INVESTOR HOLD WITHIN HIS RIGHTS, TO LOOK IN AND SUPERVISE HIS INVESTMENT, OR HE/SHE SHOWS LASSERFAIRE AND ALLOWS HIS/HER INVESTMENT GO DOWN THE DRAINS?
DITTO TO THE POLITICAL SPHERE.
WHICH POLITICIAN GIVES AWAY WILLY~NILLY, HIS STRUCTURE, OR ALLOWS ANYONE ATTEMPT TO DISMANTLE IT AND REMAIN TACITURN AND DO NOTHING?
ASSUMING WITHOUT CONCEDING THAT THE IRREDENTISTS AND REVISIONISTS TAUNT AND TAINT THE STORY AROUND CONTROL OF GOVERNOR FUBARA BY HIS BENEFACTOR NOW MINISTER WIKE, IS IT COMPLETELY AN ABSURD?
MINISTER WIKE HAD COME SEVERALLY TO DENY CONTROL OF HIS INVESTMENT IN RIVERS STATE AND EMPHASISED/HINGED AUDIBLY THAT GOVERNOR FUBARA WAS DESTROYING THE STRUCTURE THAT HE (WIKE ) BUILT IN RIVERS STATE, WHICH ALSO PRODUCED GOV. FUBARA.
HAS GOV. FUBARA RESPONDED,?
RATHER, HE WEEPS UP PEDESTRIAN SYMPATHY AROUND ETHNICITY.
*(2) GOVERNMENT OF DECEITS AND FAT WHITE LIES:*
BURNING OF A SECTION OF THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX:
CONSIDER THESE:
PRECISELY ON THE 30TH OF OCTOBER, 2023, RIVERS PEOPLE WOKE UP TO THE SAD NEWS OF THE BURNING OF THE ICONIC STRUCTURE THAT HOUSES THE LEGISLATIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT, RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX.
SEVERAL SLANTS TO THE NEWS WERE BANDIED AND PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
BUT THE ONE THAT WAS MOST AUTHENTIC WAS ĹIVE TELEVISION VIEW OF GOV. FUBARA WALKING MAJESTICALLY TO THE “LOCUS INQUO”.
WHILST ON HIS WAY, WE SAW WATER SPLASHED FROM POLICE VEHICLE TO PASSERSBY FOR WHATEVER SECURITY INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM.
HIS EXCELLENCY, GOV. FUBARA RAISED ALARM OVER THREAT TO HIS LIFE BY ONE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WHO LED THE POLICE OPERATION. HE EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE BUILDING AND ASCERTAINED THAT THE BUILDING WAS TRULY BURNT.
THE GOVERNOR RETURNED TO THE ENTRANCE GATE OF THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHERE AN EMERGENCY PODIUM WAS NOCKED IN FOR HIM.
THE GOVERNOR MOUNTED THE ROSTRUM AND QUIPPED “THEY (ASSEMBLY MEMBERS DOING THE BIDDING OF THEIR MASTER) WANTED TO IMPEACH ME TODAY. HE KEPT ASKING REPEATEDLY “WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
“WHAT IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES HAVE I COMMITTED”?
HE ASSURED HIS CHEERLEADERS ON GROUND THERE THAT HE WILL DO EVERYTHING TO DEFEND HIS MANDATE, EVEN IF IT LED TO HIS DEMISE, BUT HE WILL LEAVE THE LEGACY OF A HERO.
ASAWANA!, ASAWANA!!, ASAWANA!!! RENTED THE AIR AS THE HIRED CROWD BELLOWED.
THE ISSUE OF THE BURNT ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN COURSE OF HIS SPEECH AT FRONT OF THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE GATE.
CAN YOU CONNECT THE DOTS.
ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WAS TO BE USED TO IMPEACH GOV. FUBARA ON MONDAY, 30TH OCTOBER, 2023.
SAME DAY, BEFORE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS CONVERGED TO COMMENCE THEIR LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS, THE SECTION, PARTICULARLY THE HALLOWED CHAMBER WAS BURNT.
“THE WITCH CRIES IN THE NIGHT AND THE CHILD DIES IN THE MORNING”.
DOES ANY RATIONAL BEING NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION?
WE VENTURE TO ASK AGAIN:
“WAS GOV. FUBARA HAPPY THAT THE LONG STANDING LEGACY OF FORMER GOV. PETER ODILI, ADJUDGED ONLY SECOND TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, WAS BURNT IN HIS TIME”?
DID THE GOVERNOR INSTITUTE A PANEL, COMMITTEE, OR ANY FORM OF INQUIRY INTO THE REMOTE AND IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF FIRE ON THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX BUILDING, NOT A MERE SUPERMARKET?
WAS THERE AN INTEGRITY TEST TO UNCOVER THE STATE OF THE EDIFICE?
BY WHO DID HE OR ANY OF HIS PROTEGES CONVEY THE REPORT TO RIVERS PEOPLE?
SADLY, ON THE 14TH OF DECEMBER, AT THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, THE GOVERNOR WAS SIGHTED AT THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WITH HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENTS, AND SUPERVISED THE PULLING DOWN OF THE EDIFICE. VOOM!,
THE STRUCTURE WAS UTTERLY DEMOLISHED.
GOVERNOR FUBARA’S OVERT INTENTION IN BOTH THE BURNING AND PULLING DOWN OF THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WAS FOR THE SOLE REASON OF MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE ASSEMBLY TO SIT.
HIS ADVISERS DIDN’T TELL HIM THAT AN ASSEMBLY DOESN’T INHERE IN A STRUCTURE. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF ANY STATE OR NATION ARE THE MEMBERS.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SIT ANYWHERE AND HOWSOEVER, PROVIDED THE “MACE”, WHICH IS THE SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY, IS AVAILABLE.
GOVERNOR FUBARA EXUDING HIS ODOROUS GUTS, DESTROYED THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX BUILDING FOR PERSONAL REASONS.
WE READ THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS APPROVED THE MIND-BLOWING SUM OF 19.5 BILLION NAIRA, TAX PAYERS MONEY TO REBUILD THE ASSEMBLY HE BURNT AND PULLED DOWN.
*(3) INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR):*
GOVERNOR FUBARA IN ONE OF HIS USUAL BACKYARD BRIEF ( HE CANNOT STAND BEFORE CAMERAS AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS), TOLD RIVERS PEOPLE THAT THE INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE OF RIVERS STATE HAS DOUBLED WHAT IT WAS BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE.
ACCORDING TO HIM, BEFORE ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE, RIVERS STATE INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE, GANGLED BETWEEN 12 – 13 BILLION NAIRA MONTHLY.
HE BOASTED THAT UNDER HIS WATCH, RIVERS STATE INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE SITS PRETTY ON 28 BILLION NAIRA MONTHLY.
WE WERE HAPPY, BELIEVING THE GOVERNOR’S REVELATION WAS RIGHT AND TRUE.
WE BROUGHT OUT HANDKERCHIEFS ON TWO HANDS TO DANCE FOR THIS EARTH~BREAKING ACHIEVEMENT UNDER GOVERNOR FUBARA.
BUT, AS CURIOUS MINDS, WE WANTED TO BE SURE THAT GOVERNOR FUBARA’S BOAST ISN’T ANOTHER DELIBERATE PLOY TO DECEIVE RIVERS PEOPLE, ALL IN HIS INORDINATE BID FOR POPULAR ACCLAMATION. SO WE ASKED –
WHAT WAS NEW?
DID TAXABLE ITEMS INCREASED IN THE PRESENCE OF HARD ECONOMIC CRUNCH?
WHERE THERE NEW COMPANIES, INDUSTRIES AND HEAVY BUSINESS CONCERNS THAT LOCATED/RELOCATED TO RIVERS STATE AND PAID HUGE SUMS TO THE STATE COFFERS?
WHAT ARE THE NEW PHYSICAL INDICES/VARIABLES THAT LED TO THE EXPONENTIAL RISE IN INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE OF RIVERS STATE?
GOVERNOR FUBARA MUST HAVE GONE SPIRITUAL TO PERFORM THE MAGIC HE ANNOUNCED.
WE TOOK THE GOVERNOR TO TASK AS MAIN AND VOCAL OPPOSITION PARTY AND IPSO FACTO, THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS, ENJOINING HIM TO OFFER EXPLANATIONS TO THESE SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
HE COULDN’T.
SO WHAT IS LEFT TO CONCLUDE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR’S BOAST OF INCREASE IN INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE OF RIVERS STATE WAS A ‘CONCOCTED FAT WHITE LIE AND BAREFACED CHICANERY’!
*(4) 200 UNITS OF LOW COST HOUSING IN PORT HARCOURT:*
ANOTHER SPURIOUS BOAST OF GOVERNOR FUBARA IS IN HIS NEW BRAND BOAST TO BUILD 200 LOW COST HOUSES IN PORT HARCOURT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE/AFFORDABLE FOR THE “HAVE NOTS”.
HAHAHAHAHA!.
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR, DRIVING THE STATE TO ABYSMAL OBLIVION, WENT INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS CRONIES, “TAF CITY ESTATE DEVELOPERS”?
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE EQUITY OF THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT IS LAND?
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE LAND IN ISSUE, WERE ACQUISITIONS DONE UNDER DR. PETER ODILI AND EXPANDED BY RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI’S GOVERNMENT, IN WHAT WAS DESIGNATED AS GREATER PORT HARCOURT CITY?
TO SHOW THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION’ S INCOMPETENCE, THEY DIDN’T APPLY DUE DILIGENCE. SO, THEY INCLUDED AREAS NOT COVERED IN THE GREATER PORT HARCOURT PLAN.
OF COURSE, THIS ACCOUNTS FOR THE PLENTY COURT CASES INSTITUTED BY OWNERS OF THE LAND AREAS FORCEFULLY INCLUDED IN THE SPAN.
JUST TAKE A JOURNEY TO THE AIRPORT ROAD BY OBIRI IKWERRE, AS IT IS CALLED.
SEE FOR YOURSELF, THE SHORT SHANTIES AND SLUMS LITTERED AROUND AS THE PROPOSED/ONGOING HOUSING PROJECT, LOCATED ON A VERY CONSPICUOUS AND STRATEGIC GATEWAY INTO AND OUT OF RIVERS STATE.
PLEASE, WHEN YOU VISIT THE LOCATION, CRAVE TO BE ALLOWED TO SEE THE ROOMS OF 8/10 SIZE.
WHEN YOU DO, KINDLY REVERT WITH YOUR FINDINGS.
FOR US, AND OBJECTIVE GOOD PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS OF RIVERS STATE, WE CONCLUDE THAT IT IS A GORY SIGHT TO BEHOLD.
SO IRRITATING TO SAY THE LEAST!
*(5) ORGANIC SUPPORT:*
GOVERNOR FUBARA AND HIS GOVERNMENT IN RIVERS STATE EXEMPLIFIED THE WORST CASE OF “MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN”, FOR WANT OF A BETTER PHRASE OR DICTION.
GOVERNOR FUBARA AND HIS PRAISE SINGERS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ONE OF GOVERNOR FUBARA’S SPONSORED NON~GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, “RIVERS WOMEN UNITE FOR FUBARA”, EXPOSED VULNERABLE AND HELPLESS AND SEEMINGLY HOPELESS OLD WOMEN TO THE WORLD. THE OLD WOMEN WERE BROUGHT FROM SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS INTO THE STREETS OF PORT HARCOURT, CLAD HALF NAKED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
THESE WOMEN, FOR FILTHY AND MISERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WERE MADE TO MATCH THE STREETS OF PORT HARCOURT WITH THEIR HANDOUTS.
WHERE IN OUR HISTORY, HAD ANY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED THE DEHUMANIZING/ÐEFILING OF HER CITIZENS AND SHOWN UP ON INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL AND LOCAL TELEVISIONS LIKE THE ONE ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 2024, IN RIVERS STATE?
WHAT WAS THE INTENTION OF THESE UNPARDONABLE SOCIETAL MISFITS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS SHOW THAT GOVERNOR FUBARA WAS GARNERING ORGANIC SUPPORT?
SO FAKE.
HAS THE GOVERNOR OR HIS ADVISERS OR HIS AMATEUR HANDLERS REFUTED THE ACT/SCENE IN ISSUE EVEN WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD AND INTERNATIONAL/LOCAL ORGANISATIONS STOOD IN CONDEMNATION?
PLS SHOW ONE OF SUCH
ATTEMPTS.
IT WAS SOOTHING TO THE GOVERNOR.
HE FUNDED THE CRISIS MERCHANTS MASQUERADING AND GATHERING UNDER THE IGNOƁLE NAME – “RIVERS WOMEN UNITE FOR FUBARA”.
SIGNED:
CHIEF TONY C. OKOCHA, KSC, JP, DSSRS.
CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC),
RIVERS STATE.
JULY 1, 2024.
