Ambassador Blessing Fubara Senior, younger brother of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
Speaking ahead of the party’s primary election, Fubara described himself as a competent and energetic candidate committed to restoring peace, economic prosperity and political stability in Rivers State.
He also pledged to serve only one term if elected governor, insisting that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District must complete its eight-year tenure under the state’s zoning arrangement.
“We are standing on a ground competent, reliable and reputable to restore the soul of Nigeria and restore the soul of River State,” he said.
Fubara lamented what he described as the political and economic decline of the state, saying Rivers people had lost opportunities, investments and dignity.
“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 stated.
The governorship aspirant called for what he described as a political uprising across party and ethnic lines to reclaim the state’s position as the “treasure base of the nation.”
“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 added.
Fubara promised to revive economic growth and maintain peace if elected into office.
He stressed the importance of respecting the state’s rotational leadership structure, warning that abandoning the arrangement could create political instability.
“The River Southeast Senatorial District must complete their eight-year tenure,” he said.
“Therefore, I have vowed to do just a four-year one-term tenure to bring the expected prosperity and development in River State.”
According to him, after completing his tenure, he would support power rotation to the next senatorial district in line with the state’s political tradition.
Fubara also argued that political influence should be determined by popular support rather than financial strength.
“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 stated.
He further called on supporters across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State to participate actively in the party’s primary election.
The aspirant also appealed to his “elder brother” in the governorship race to step down and support what he described as the people’s movement to reclaim the state.
“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 he remains the best candidate to restore peace and strengthen governance in Rivers State.
