A member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Eleme, Dr. Igwe Aforji Obey, has said that members of the house of assembly have decided to work with the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in the overall interest of Rivers State.
Obey, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, spoke with Prime Heritage Magazine at the Legislators’ Quarters in Port Harcourt on the restoration of democratic rule in Rivers State.
He also expressed confidence in Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s leadership, commending him for putting the interest of Rivers State above partisan considerations.
“The governor has sacrificed for peace in our state. That is why lawmakers and political leaders are now choosing Rivers State first. We have fought too many battles along party, ethnic, and interest lines, and it has cost us dearly. We must learn from that and work together,” Obey said.
He disclosed that the house of assembly has invited Governor Fubara to present commissioner nominees and the appropriation bill for the remaining part of the year, signaling a renewed spirit of cooperation.
“We are ready to work with him for the interest of Rivers State,” he concluded.
The legislator described the emergency rule period as a time when “the voice of representative government was lost,” leaving his constituency without proper advocacy.
“Within the period of the emergency rule in the state, we lost the voice of representative government, including that of Eleme,” he said.
“I tried to engage traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders, but it was never the same as when we, the elected representatives, were fully functioning. The sole administrators at the state and local levels were not elected by our people, and that made the difference.”
