Orashi National Congress Extends Full Support To Gov Fubara’s Leadership & Urges Peace And Development In Rivers 

With a focused vision on progress and development, the Congress issued a comprehensive press statement reflecting unanimous resolutions aimed at fostering unity, endorsing leadership, and advocating for peaceful growth within the Orashi Region.

The following is the full text of their significant resolutions and calls for collective action towards a more prosperous Rivers State.

A PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ORASHI NATIONAL CONGRESS DECLARING TOTAL SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR SIMINALAYI FUBARA, DEPUTY GOVERNOR PROFESSOR MRS. NGOZI ODU AND RT. HON. EDISON EHIE THE CHIEF OF STAFF GOVERNMENT HOUSE, CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE ORASHI PEACE, UNITY AND SECURITY SUMMIT 2024 FROM ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE ORASHI PEACE, UNITY SECURITY SUMMIT INVOLVING THE FOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ORASHI REGION.

The Orashi National Congress, being the mouthpiece of the Orashi people, held a crucial meeting in Ahoada town, wherein various issues of interest concerning the State, governance, and expectations from elected representatives were robustly considered. At the end of the meeting, the congress unanimously resolved as follows:

1. Peace and security are indispensable ingredients for development. All acts of political aggression and violence are unreservedly condemned. We call on all political actors in Rivers State to embrace peace, employ dialogue, mutual respect and understanding in the resolution of any and all political differences. Our people voted for development, welfare, peace and security, hence we call for an end to the killings of security personnel within the Orashi Region and in the State

2. The people of Orashi Region comprising Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Nndoni respectively and overwhelmingly voted Sir Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State and Professor Mrs. Ngozi Odu as the Deputy Governor in a joint ticket based on our belief and trust in their firm commitment and capacity to sustain and improve the tempo of transformation of the State. So far, we acknowledge and commend the commitment of His Excellency Governor Sim Fubara to take Rivers State to new levels of sustainable peace, security, progress and prosperity in accordance with his unique blueprint for prosperity, and giving our people and businesses a RENEWED HOPE for responsible governance, we support wholeheartedly all the actions taken by the Governor as a step taken in the right direction including and not limited to lawful actions .

3. We acknowledge Chief Barr Nyesom Wike, Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who was the fmr political leader in the State as Governor of Rivers State then, a status yielded to him by even our political father Sir Dr. Peter Odili, the Ogbu-agu I of Orashi Region, who is peacefully enjoying his deliberate retreat from active political activities. We expect that the catapulting of Chief Wike to central national politics would bring back home laudable laurels, and have his name imprinted in a wider space than Rivers State. We therefore urge him to deploy his drive and passion to the tasks of his current office, and rest assured that we the good people of Orashi region shall always be available for consultations on how best we may support him in his political joumey.

4. There are several conversations that are going in media space including in media chats, and actions suggesting that there are some discord between Hon. Minister FCT, and the Governor of Rivers State. Despite the conversations, ranging from a supposed compromise of the political structure in Rivers State, to other grossly disturbing suppositions, our experience so far, does not indicate in any way or manner, the remotest compromise of the existing political structure in Rivers State, despite the noticeable political tension in the state, we call for peace however our support is 100% intact for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Professor Mrs. Ngozi Odu and Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie the Chief of Staff Government House PH

5. We call on the Elders of the State, our revered traditional rulers, respected political actors, and the generality of the people of Rivers State to lend their total support to Governor Sim Fubara to take the State through the path of RENEWED HOPE, to steady economic growth, peace, security and welfare of our people.

6. We particularly call on our elected representatives in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives and Senate to consult with us, their constituents within the Orashi Region, on important matters of State, and not hastily substitute their personal persuasions for our general desires and aspirations, without regard to the priorities of the people who voted them into office. We call on our elected representatives to interface with us by attending and participating in the forthcoming Orashi peace, unity and security summit 2024 on the 30th July 2024 or Any of our Elected representatives who works against our stand shall be seen as a saboteur.

7. We commend Governor Sim Fubara on his achievements in office l and also commend the recent execution of projects and programs inspite of the political crisis, we call on all Assembly members in the state and from Orashi region in particular to work with the Governor and the Deputy Governor respectively. We also congratulate our son Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie for his appointment and faithful discharge of duties as chief of staff Government House PH ,  and commend his continuous dogged defence of the truth and democratic ideals. He has our full support, hence we call on all assembly members from Orashi region to support his leadership.

8. In similar vein, we call on the Honourable Members representing us both at the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly to also interact with us at the proposed Orashi peace unity and security summit to determine our development priorities, for purposes of material input. This should be an urgent task. We are anxious to see Government committed action and investment to finally implement the plan for Orashi regional development and Rivers State at large.

9. The Leadership of the Orashi National Congress pass a vote of confidence on the Executive Governor of Rivers State His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and resolved to continue to support his administration.

10. We call on the Commissioner of Police Rivers State to be neutral and professional in all his dealing in Rivers State and assured the Rivers State Police Command of the support of Orashi People in the provision of useful information that will enable them seamlessly carry out their responsibility, while we work out a suitable framework for all security agencies within Orashi region of Rivers State for the Orashi security summit.

11. That Orashi region will resist any attempt to undermine our leaders, her Excellency, Professor Mrs. Ngozi Odu The Deputy Governor of Rivers State and Rt. Hon Edison Ehie the Chief of Staff Government House  with undue pressure or distraction because of their unflinching support for the Governor of Rivers State.

12. We equally support the leadership of Rt. Hon Ehie Edison as the Chief of Staff Government House

13. We rather observe an estrangement and capture of political activities by actors with access to the Hon. Minister, to the calculated exclusion ofmajority of stakeholders in the State, and the altruistic pursuits of the development of Rivers State. We call on these political merchants to sheathe their ignoble swords of division for personal gain, and allow Rivers State benefit from responsible governance of Sir Sim Fubara and Professor Mrs. Ngozi Odu led government, with the benefit of sound political guidance of political leaders of the State and the people of Rivers State. We trust that the Hon. Minister will disappoint any political merchants of discord, and maintain his place as an elder statesman with every advice and encouragement to the sitting Governor to succeed and even surpass him as Governor. Yes! Every good father wants those after him to surpass his legacies.

14. We are irrevocably resolved to support Governor Sim Fubara in the discharge of his Constitutional duties, particularly his Oath to “in all circumstances…do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will”. We therefore call on Governor Sim Fubara to abide by his Oath of Office, and heal the toxicity and divisiveness arising from politics in the State. Elections are over, so he should be Governor of the State, for all, and devote himself to the service and well- being of the people of Rivers State.

15. Finally, we call on the Rivers people to remain calm, resolute and law abiding, while commending the recent supreme court ruling granting  LGA Autonomy as a welcome development