Ambassador Blessing Fubara Senior, brother of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, pledging to serve only one term if elected.
Speaking ahead of the party’s primary election, Fubara described himself as a competent and energetic candidate determined to restore peace, stability and economic prosperity in Rivers State.
He lamented the political and economic situation in the state, saying Rivers had lost investments, opportunities and its pride as a people.
According to him, the state needs a collective political uprising to reclaim its position as the “treasure base of the nation.”
“I am addressing you today on the occasion of the Nigerian Democratic Congress Party primary elections across states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“We are standing on a ground competent, reliable and reputable to restore the soul of Nigeria and restore the soul of Rivers State. The political happenings in Rivers State cannot be overemphasised.”
The governorship aspirant described the state as distressed and shortchanged, insisting that Rivers people were not a conquered people.
“We have lost opportunities. We have lost investments. We have lost our dignity as a people. We have lost our pride as Rivers people,” he stated.
Fubara promised to restore peace and revive economic growth if elected governor.
He also stressed the need to sustain the state’s zoning arrangement, insisting that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District must complete its eight-year tenure.
According to him, altering the existing political rotation formula could create a dangerous precedent capable of destabilising the state’s political balance.
“We have vowed to keep the peaceful existence of the political rotation of Rivers State according to our founding fathers by our districts. The Rivers South-East Senatorial District must complete their eight-year tenure,” he said.
The aspirant pledged to spend only four years in office before supporting power rotation to another senatorial district.
“Therefore, I have vowed to do just a four-year one-term tenure to bring the expected prosperity and development in Rivers State,” he added.
Fubara also maintained that political strength lies in popular support rather than financial power.
“We might not challenge the financial capacity that they have, but we know that we have the people, so we are richer in capacity,” he said.
He called on his supporters across the 23 local government areas of the state to mobilise for the party’s primary election.
The governorship hopeful further appealed to his “elder brother” in the race to step down and support what he described as the people’s uprising to reclaim the state.
“To rather step down and support the call of the people, the uprising of the people for us to take back our dear state and restore a prosperous and progressive state for all,” he said.
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