Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, has said former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, was not wrong by proclaiming Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the political leader of the state.
In justifying the declaration, Nwuke claimed that even the Nigerian constitution and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recognise governors as leaders of their respective states.
Nwuke, who spoke with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, said Odili’s proclamation does not only show humility, but revealed that the former governor understands the nature of power.
“The good thing is that it is coming from one of the foremost governors of Rivers State after Bayelsa State was carved out. It was Peter Odili who led Rivers State. Odili understands that power is transient. I think he understands that whilst he was governor, he was leader.
“Every other governor that has come and gone had been leaders in their own rights. So, for such a wise politician, to look at the circumstances before him and make such pronouncement, that no matter how we are looking at it, Fubara is the political leader of Rivers State. I think it does not only show humility on the part of Dr. Odili, it also shows that he is a man of experience, who understands the nature of power and that power moves from point to point and that when it leaves you, you need to allow the one upon whom power is bestowed to run.
“Having said that, let’s look at it. Within the PDP, it has always been the governor who is proclaimed leader, and the PDP constitution doesn’t put power elsewhere; in the hands of any other person, other than the governor. That is why the governors of PDP are very strong.
“Even the constitution identifies the governor as the number one citizen of the state. He cannot be the number one citizen and someone else is exercising the power of number one citizen.
“If you look at it from the point of precedence, you cannot deny Sim the right to be leader. To that extent, I think Dr. Peter Odili was simply acting within existing confines which put the leadership of the state under the governor,” the former lawmaker said.
