Rivers State’s former Youth Commissioner, Chisom Gbali, expressed grave worries about the state’s political climate in a recent interview with Channels Television. He discussed the impact of the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) current minister, who was formerly Rivers State’s governor.
According to Gbali, all former Governors of the state—Dr. Peter Odili, Celestine Omehia, and Rotimi Amaechi—are united in their support for the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Gbali questioned why the FCT Minister appears to be the only one opposing Fubara’s leadership. “Life is about moving on,” he said. “Your time has passed. Why can’t you let someone else lead?”
He also claimed that the people acting as local government administrators in Rivers State were handpicked by the FCT Minister and are loyal to him. Gbali pointed out that in Ikwerre Local Government, the current sole administrator is actually an aide of the former chairman, Samuel Nwanosike.
“If you go to Ikwerre, Samuel Nwanosike, the Former local government chairman, his aide is the administrator of that local government,” he said. In Obio/Akpor, he said the administrator is Dr. Walter, another close ally of the FCT Minister.Gbali believes that this pattern shows clear political control by the FCT Minister, even though he no longer governs the state. He called for an end to what he sees as interference, saying it’s time for new leaders to rise without being held back by the past.
