GOV SIM FUBARA: HIS VISION FOR RIVERS STATE AND THE MANY PERSECUTIONS
By Asi Prince Dateme_
In every society, there are individuals who chart the course of development for their people. Though, the incipient forces of darkness and retrogression might initially fight them, but their contributions remain evergreen.
For these individuals who change society for good in history, the road to change is often laden with thorns and nails. From Karl Marx, Mahatma Ghandhi to Moa Tsetung, the story is the same.
In Rivers State of Nigeria, the journey for the true development of the state and her people has been a furious battle by the courageous few.
It is said that anytime a vision is born and postive change about to take place in the life of a people, toes must be stepped on, friends will turn into foes, ‘ ‘commenders’ turn to condemners and even believers will become betrayers. This has been the fate of Gov Sim Fubara since his emergence as Governor of Rivers State
For every step the governor takes at changing the face of governance in Rivers state, there is stumbling block placed on his way by the enemies of the state
On assumption of office, Gov. Sim Fubara chose to lead a paradigm shift in serving Rivers people – rolling out a robust vision for the transformation of Rivers State.
Barely six months into his administration, the Governor has birthed great democratic dividends that rattled those who wished he followed a written script by the self acclaimed owners of the state
This decision by the Governor to make a detour from the usual style of bad governance, ignited hate and in no time caused him to loose friends and inflame political enemies.
But driven by his passion and love for Rivers people, Gov Sim Fubara proceeded with his vision for the true development of Rivers state, which his OPPONENTS considered a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and has since led series of persecutions against his office, and even his person
On 30th October 2023, the Governor survived an impeachment plot, botched by Rivers people themselves, who in a historic match with their governor, through the atmosphere of flying bullets and the firing darts of teargas and water canisters stormed the Assembly complex, and told the world that they would not take it kindly with anyone who is after their governor
With that failed plot, the enemies of Gov. Sim Fubara, took their gang-up against the governor to another level, resorting to the courts, procuring judgement after judgment in their struggle to sacrifice him at all cost even when their camp is a mixture of very strange bedfellows
It is important for the world to know that at the root of these persecution is the governor’s refusal to handover the treasury of Rivers state for sharing by those who believe to have taken the state captive. This is the reason why question about what offence the governor has committed has remained unanswered to this day
In spite of all, Gov. Sim Fubara’s machinery of progress has not been impeded by the several acts of persecution: sabotage, betrayals and back stabbing by his once very close allies, which no doubt is a harrowing experience to bear.
As the persecution persist, the Governor in his quiet dynamism and vibrancy has kept faith with Rivers people ensuring timely delivery of programs and projects in the governance of the state.
Today, as Rivers people despair about the turn of events in the state, let their support for their governor, His Excellency Sir Siminilayi Fubara be firm, for his good visions for Rivers state.
_For it is said when a good leader stands and people fail to stand with him they make him a victim._
Rivers state and their Governor must not be sacrificed by the avarice and the predatory calculation of one man.
Asi Prince Dateme, a Media Practitioner writes from Port Harcourt_
