Nigeria: Rivers state braces for Governor Fubara’s return
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
With just a few days to go before Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s return to office, Rivers State is abuzz with mixed expectations. Fubara’s return comes after a six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu September
The sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd), has been criticized for his handling of the state’s affairs. Many have expressed disappointment with his decisions, including the conduct of the August 30 local government elections, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning 20 chairmanship seats.
Critics argue that Ibas overstepped his authority by sacking and appointing members of boards, agencies, and parastatals. His budget allocations for projects like CCTV installation and gunboats have also been questioned.
As Fubara prepares to resume office, many are expecting him to address the challenges facing the state. Some of the expectations include:
Probing the financial transactions of the emergency rule regime
Restarting abandoned projects
Discarding the sole administrator’s budget and presenting a fresh, people-oriented budget
Ensuring peace and stability in the state
However, some have expressed skepticism about Fubara’s ability to deliver on these expectations, given the circumstances of his temporary departure from office.
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on Fubara to probe the administration of the sole administrator and bring the financial transactions of the emergency rule regime under scrutiny.
The Rivers State chapter of the CLO also urged Fubara to commence people-oriented projects and discard the sole administrator’s budget.
As Fubara prepares to return to office, many are calling for genuine peace and stability in the state. Some have urged Fubara to focus on delivering good governance and ensuring the welfare of the people.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether Fubara’s return will bring about the much-needed peace and stability to Rivers State.
