Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, is facing sharp criticism over what has been described as a troubling display of political double standards and divisive governance. Prominent voices, including Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), have accused the Governor of abandoning the principles of transparency and collaboration he once championed.
Fubara, who had previously criticized the live broadcast of project flag-offs and inaugurations as a “wasteful expense,” has reportedly embraced the same practice within his administration. Critics argue that these broadcasts now focus on projects with minimal impact, drawing sharp contrasts to the transparency efforts championed by his predecessor, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike.
At a recent commissioning ceremony in Ahoada, Fubara acknowledged completing a project initiated during Wike’s tenure but admitted to terminating contracts with other contractors who failed to align with his political interests. This decision, coupled with branding some contractors as “enemies of the state,” has sparked accusations of political vindictiveness and governance by exclusion.
Engr. Woke, in a public statement, described Fubara’s leadership as divisive, emphasized the need for unity and respect for past achievements.
“Leadership should elevate and unite, not divide and belittle,” Woke said, urged Fubara to reconsider his approach.
Fubara’s critics contend that his actions threaten the foundations of democracy in Rivers State. They warn that his refusal to acknowledge the contributions of past administrations, coupled with a perceived tendency to stifle dissent, risks alienating the very citizens he was elected to serve.
