By: Emmanuel Abi Couson
The Leader of Ahoada East Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bernard ThankGod Unwhe has declared unalloyed support and loyalty to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the State Government.
Similarly, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 2023 election for Ahoada East Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. MacSunday Ugwu has dumped the party and also declared total support and commitment to mobilise the people in the area to key into the Governor’s policies and programmes for the State.
Both top politicians in Ahaoda East Local Government Area made their position known during a meeting presided over by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Edison Ehie, at Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The two key leaders in the area were accompanied to the meeting by the former Councillor representing Ahoada East Ward 11, Hon. Daniel Igbudu.
Also present at the meeting was the Managing Director, Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency (RISAA), Hon. Aye Pepple.
Aye Pepple was also a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2015 and represented Bonny State Constituency in the State’s Legislature.
Speaking at the meeting, the former Leader of the Ahoada East Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bernard ThankGod Unwhe, said that having watched from the fence the drama orchestrated by some politicians in the State since October last year, he had no reason to continue to support what is wrong, even when they had realised the obvious truth.
According to him, “I will be doing the people of my Ward 11 a disservice by ignoring their clarion call for unity of purpose in efforts to give the State Government the needed support to fulfill its mandate, and take the State to the next level.”
Unwhe said that “there is no denying the fact that Governor Fubara won the March 18, 2023 election in the State, as affirmed by the Supreme Court”.
He stated that “as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there can only be one Governor in a State at any given point in time,” adding that “until Sir Siminalayi Fubara serves out his term as prescribed by law, nobody has the right to claim the powers vested in the Chief Executive Officer of the State”.
Unwhe promised to go back to the grassroots to mobilise thousands of his supporters to join the SIMplified Movement in order to help Governor Fubara succeed in the delivery of good governance and democratic dividends to Rivers people.
Also speaking, the SDP Assembly candidate in the March 18 elections, Rt. Hon. MacSunday Ugwu said that he decided to dump the party and collaborate with all people of good will and conscience, with a view to making the Governor proud and succeed in the governance of the State.
He further pledged to galvanise his supporters to join the SIMplified Movement, to defend and protect Governor Fubara in his initiatives designed to build a more peaceful, united, and progressive generation to come.
In his response, Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie encouraged the new entrants into the SIMplified Movement to remain steadfast and resolute in their support for the Governor.
