Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The political landscape in Rivers State took another dramatic turn on Thursday as Ambassador Blessing Fubara Senior, elder brother of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has formally declared his intention to contest the governorship election on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
He promised to serve only a single four-year term if elected.
Fubara said Rivers needed urgent political and economic rebuilding following months of intense crisis and uncertainty.
“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 said while addressing supporters ahead of the party’s primary election.
The declaration adds a fresh dimension to the growing political realignments in Rivers, where tensions over power rotation, governance and party structures have continued to dominate public discourse.
Fubara insisted that preserving the state’s zoning arrangement remained critical to maintaining political balance and stability, arguing that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District must be allowed to complete its turn in office.
“We have vowed to you to keep the peaceful existence of the political rotation of River States according to our founding fathers by our districts. The River Southeast Senatorial District must complete their 8-year tenure,” he stated.
In what appeared to be an attempt to calm fears of prolonged political dominance, he pledged to serve for only one tenure if elected governor.
“Therefore, I have vowed to do just a 4-year one-term tenure to bring the expected prosperity and development in River State,” he said.
The aspirant also warned against abandoning the zoning arrangement, describing such a move as dangerous for the state’s political future.
“It is of pertinent reasoning for us to understand that it sets a very wrong and dangerous precedent if we alter the senatorial rotation of our leadership and governance in the state,” he added.
Although he acknowledged the influence of political heavyweights in the state, Fubara argued that genuine political strength rested with ordinary residents 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 declared.
He further appealed to supporters across the state’s 23 local government areas to mobilise massively for the party’s primary election, describing the contest as an opportunity to reclaim Rivers’ political and economic relevance.
“Today, we see a River State that is distressed. Today, we see a River State that is shortchanged. Today, we see a River State that seems almost like a conquered state. No, we are not a conquered people,” he said.
The governorship hopeful equally called on another unnamed contender in the race, whom he described as his “elder brother,” to withdraw and support what he termed a people-driven political movement.
“I urge you 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.
Fubara maintained that his administration would focus on restoring peace, reviving investment opportunities and rebuilding confidence in governance if elected.
