Ambassador Blessing Fubara Senior, elder brother of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), promising to serve only one term if elected.
The governorship hopeful made the declaration ahead of the party’s primary election, saying he was prepared to restore peace, economic growth and political stability in Rivers State.
Speaking during his declaration, Fubara described the current political and economic situation in the state as troubling, saying Rivers had lost opportunities, investments and dignity because of the prolonged political crisis rocking the state.
According to him, Rivers people must rise above party, ethnic and political differences to reclaim the state and return it to prosperity.
“I am addressing you today on the occasion of the Nigerian Democratic Congress Party primary elections across states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“We are standing on a ground competent, reliable and reputable to restore the soul of Nigeria and restore the soul of Rivers State. The people are feeling the pains for this purpose.”
The declaration comes at a time Rivers State continues to experience political tension following the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The power struggle between both camps has divided political actors in the state and affected governance, leading to concerns from residents and stakeholders over the future stability of Rivers.
Blessing Fubara, while addressing supporters, said the state now appeared distressed and shortchanged.
“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.
He added that Rivers State was once regarded as the “treasure base of the nation” because of its rich oil resources and economic strength but claimed the state had gradually lost its position because of political instability.
“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.
The governorship aspirant also based his campaign on the need to protect the state’s long-standing political zoning arrangement.
In Rivers politics, power rotation among the three senatorial districts has remained an important issue aimed at ensuring fairness and political balance. The current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is from Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Blessing Fubara argued that the district must be allowed to complete its expected eight-year tenure before power shifts to another zone.
According to him, altering the arrangement could create political tension and dangerous precedents in the future.
“We have vowed to keep the peaceful existence of the political rotation of Rivers State according to our founding fathers by our districts. The Rivers South-East Senatorial District must complete their eight-year tenure,” he said.
To demonstrate commitment to the zoning arrangement, he promised to spend only four years in office if elected governor.
“Therefore, I have vowed to do just a four-year one-term tenure to bring the expected prosperity and development in Rivers State. When that is done, we will stand with all our capacity and support the next brother from the next senatorial district,” he stated.
The aspirant said his ambition was not driven by financial strength but by popular support from the people.
“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.
He called on party supporters and members across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State to mobilise massively for the party’s primary election.
“I’m calling on my two million supporters across the 23 local governments of Rivers State to come out in mass, stand at your polling units and wards, and make a statement for us to reclaim the soul of our dear Rivers State,” he added.
Blessing Fubara also claimed he was the only governorship candidate capable of restoring peace in the state after years of political conflict.
“Politically, within the years past, we have seen the worst part of politics that the world has never witnessed. But I stand to be the only candidate across party lines that will restore peace and merge experience with competence to further the growth and prosperity of Rivers State,” he said.
In a surprising twist, the governorship hopeful called on what he described as his “elder brother” in the race to step down and support his ambition for the sake of unity and peace in the state.
“Therefore, I call on my elder brother also in the contest to see reasons that this is the right time for us to take over our 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.
The state remains one of Nigeria’s most politically important states because of its large voting population, strategic oil resources and influence in the Niger Delta region.
Over the years, governorship contests in Rivers have often attracted national attention due to the intense political rivalry among major actors.
Meanwhile, residents continue to express concern over the prolonged political tension in the state, with many calling for peace, stability and renewed economic growth.
For many Rivers people, the coming election is expected to determine not only the political direction of the state but also its economic future after months of uncertainty and political disputes.