Blessing Fubara, the brother of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has officially declared his intention to contest the upcoming governorship election in Rivers State under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). He has pledged to serve only a single term if elected.
Announcement of Candidacy
Speaking ahead of the party's primary election, Blessing Fubara described himself as a “ready, competent and energetic” candidate who is determined to restore peace, stability, and economic prosperity to the state. He emphasized that Rivers State has faced significant political and economic challenges in recent years.
“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, highlighting the state's decline.
Call for Unity and Restoration
Fubara expressed that the state is in distress and called for unity across political and ethnic lines to rebuild Rivers. “Today, we see a Rivers State that is distressed. Today, we see a Rivers State that is shortchanged. Today, we see a Rivers State that seems almost like a conquered state. No, we are not a conquered people,” he declared.
He also pledged to uphold the state's zoning arrangement, insisting that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District should complete its full eight-year tenure. “We have vowed to you to keep the peaceful existence of the political rotation of Rivers State according to our founding fathers by our districts,” he said.
One-Term Promise
The governorship hopeful further promised to serve only one four-year term if elected governor. “I have vowed to do just a four-year one-term tenure to bring the expected prosperity and development in Rivers State,” he added, emphasizing his commitment to a limited tenure.
People Over Money
Fubara argued that political success should not be determined by financial resources, claiming that public support remains his biggest 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 said.
Appeal for Support
The NDC aspirant urged supporters across all 23 local government areas of Rivers State to mobilize massively for the party's governorship primary. He also appealed to what he described as his “elder brother” in the race to step down in support of what he called “the uprising of the people.”
“It sets a very wrong and dangerous precedent if we alter the senatorial rotation of our leadership and governance in the state,” Fubara warned. He pledged to restore peace and strengthen governance in Rivers State if elected governor.
