Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, broke his silence over widespread speculations that he had defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The speculation came amidst the disqualification of his
loyalists by the screening committee of the APC for the House of Assembly
aspirants.
The governor, speaking during an inspection tour of the
newly constructed general hospital and the fully remodelled Neuropsychiatric
Hospital, both in Rumuigbo, Obiakpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on
Wednesday, said contrary to the erroneous reports in a section of the media in
the last couple of days, he remained a member of the ruling party and would
continue to work for the overall interest of the party.
“I know that there has been a lot of drama in the media, one
story or another.
“I am a member of the All Progressives Congress, and nothing
has changed. People should stop using whatever situation they pick up from
social media or their own interpretation of any situation to present me
wrongly.
“I’ve not gone anywhere; I’m still a member of the APC, and
I remain a member. Whatever happens, what is important is supporting the
overall interest of the party.”
While he was conducted round the facilities by the Director
of Medical Services in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent
Wachukwu, the governor expressed delight at the completion of the two projects,
which, according to him, were conceived to address critical needs in the health
sector in the state.
“This very project, if you could remember, when we came in,
we had an issue that required our sudden visit, and it had to do with mental
health.
“So when we came here for the inspection of the
rehabilitation centre that the board was trying to put together, we found out
that we had more issues than even the mental health issue.
“We didn’t have a general hospital to serve the people
within this area. The closest medical centre that they had here was the
University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, which is very far from here.
“We felt that with the space we have in this compound, it
would be proper for us to also have a general hospital situated in this
particular facility to take care of the neighbouring communities up to Rumuola,
Rumuolumeni and all the surrounding areas.
“Today, to the glory of God, we can see that the project is
already completed. It is not 95 per cent complete, it is a hundred per cent
completion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Aspirants seeking a ticket of the All
Progressives Congress for the Rivers State House of Assembly who submitted
appeals after their screening last weekend are waiting with bated breath for
the outcome of the appeal.
Meanwhile, the APC assembly screening appeal committee,
headed by Dr Abdul Mahmud, concluded its two-day sitting on Wednesday evening.
Mahmud, who had promised that the committee would attend to
all petitions until 5pm on Wednesday, commended the aspirants for their
peaceful conduct.
The number of petitions received by the committee could not
be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
As of Tuesday, when the panel chairman briefed the media, he
said 19 petitions had been received, adding that it would sit until 5pm on
Friday to receive more from other aspirants.
When our correspondent visited the APC Secretariat along Aba
Road at about 6pm on Wednesday, the place was still slightly busy, but it was
gathered that the committee had concluded its sitting and left.
The state APC spokesman, Chibike Ikenga, who was seen
driving out of the secretariat, confirmed that the panel had concluded its
report, adding that it would disclose its findings in due course.
When contacted, one of the aspirants who submitted an
appeal, Gogo Isaiah, said he appeared before the panel with the necessary
documents requested.
“So I am waiting for the panel to make its report public,”
he stated.
On Tuesday, Mahmud had warned aspirants to stop sending him
congratulatory messages.
He condemned the conduct of one of the disqualified
aspirants, Mr Tonye Tom-George, whom the APC screening committee accused of
attempting to bribe members during the screening.
Recall that Tom-George, while reacting to the allegations by
the screening committee chairman, Muraina Ajibola, called for proof.
Mahmud, however, expressed shock that the same aspirant sent
him a message to congratulate him on his appointment to the state APC House of
Assembly appeal panel.
Answering questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt, Mahmud,
who noted that aside from Tom-George, he received similar messages from other
aspirants, said such messages were not necessary as he was in the state for
serious business.
Mahmud said such salutations and pleasantries had the
possibility of leaving an impression on the mind of a panelist.
Mahmud stated, “I need to say this, and it has become a
malaise in our country.
“You know judges are sitting over matters, litigants will go
behind the judges, seek their telephone number and begin to send text messages,
good morning, sir. I hope you slept well.
“Even where, in the face of it is not an attempt to
influence the judge, but you’re putting yourself in the face of the judge.
“And I think we should discourage Nigerians from doing that.
I have received communications from appellants who are to appear before me,
congratulating me on my appointment.
“I have received a WhatsApp message from him. That is Mr
Tom-George, telling me good morning, congratulations on my appointment. Those
things are not necessary.
“I think we should discourage ourselves from some of these
things.”
0 Comments