President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognizes the sincerity, humility, and peaceful disposition of the Governor of Rivers State in rendering laudable and sustainable developments in Rivers State despite unnecessary and wicked distractions. The President appreciates and loves the personality of the Governor of Rivers State; hence, he has a robust relationship with him. This cordial relationship between the two leaders is built on mutual respect and trust, with a focus on the economy and politics.
The federal government, by all indications, is proud of the Rivers State Government’s intervention to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal that brought about untold hardship in the country. Such interventions as the provision of free buses for the working residents, The 2023 One Hundred Thousand Naira Christmas Bonus for all civil servants, Provision of food palliatives Revitalizing of moribund Zonal hospitals and upgrading of healthcare centers to provide Swift medical services to the people and the women in agriculture in support of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the Wife of the President that has been domesticated in Rivers State through the value addition of the wife of the Rivers State governor, not to talk about the massive youth empowerment across the 23 local government areas and the non indigenes. There are some efforts by the state government to strengthen the hope of the masses, and this is what the president of Nigeria is happy for.
President Tinubu’s intervention in the political crisis in Rivers State was commendable and a show of love and respect for the government and the people of Rivers State, even though it was lopsided with no positive impact on the office of the governor. An intervention that can best be described as political and not constitutional, but the manner in which the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, handled it and has continued to work out his salvation without inciting anybody to war, has remained commendable and has attracted peace awards and recognitions to him.
The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is championed in Rivers State across all sectors, giving Rivers State the hope that everything will be fine, hence the “Rivers First” Initiative. It is worthy to note that the cordial relationship between President Tinubu and the Governor of Rivers State was put to the test with the nationwide protest, and the world saw strong collaboration and synergy between the state and the federal government. The protest was peaceful as the state government was calling on her people, especially the youth, to be patient with the federal government.
As a great leader who has inherited a huge decay in the economic and political structure of the nation, the role of Rivers State in the remediation and eventual “bounce back ” of the nation’s economy is primarily in the hands of the region and the oil Rich Rivers State, under the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is at the top, and so the Father and Son relationship between the two leaders will thrive for a very long time.
Adokiye Oyagiri
Secretary, Ekpeye Youth Congres