By Ayomide Otitoju
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance comprising members of various political parties in the state and led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Fubara made the declaration during the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and equipping of the Riven Medical Facility, a public-private partnership pharmaceutical manufacturing project in Rivers State.
The governor endorsed President Bola Tinubu as his preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 elections and also threw his weight behind Kingsley China as his preferred governorship candidate.
He urged his supporters to vote for all candidates contesting under the Rainbow Coalition.
“I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our President, and he is the one we are supporting. The governorship candidate is the candidate I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support every candidate under the Rainbow Coalition,” Fubara said.
He dismissed suggestions that he should delay joining the coalition, insisting that he had already made his decision.
“I am already in the family. I have returned to our family. Give your total support to the coalition. The time of war is over; it is now time for peace, and that peace will take us to another level,” he added.
The governor said the period of political conflict in Rivers State had ended, stressing that peace and unity were essential for the state’s development.
Fubara also warned against actions capable of creating divisions, saying he would not support any agenda that could undermine the prevailing peace.
“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. We have done what we need to do, and now we are moving forward,” he said.
Speaking on the Riven Medical Facility project, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring its successful completion, noting that he approved government support after receiving assurances on the project’s viability and delivery schedule.
He disclosed that the first phase of the pharmaceutical factory is expected to be completed within three months, describing it as a strategic investment that would drive industrialisation, create employment opportunities and position Rivers State as a hub for the production of medical consumables.
Fubara said the project would stimulate manufacturing, attract local and international patronage and encourage the establishment of supporting industries within the state.
He also assured investors of the government’s full support and urged the host community to cooperate with the developers to guarantee the project’s success.
The governor added that the state was determined to avoid contractual disputes that could discourage investment, noting that Rivers State is currently involved in litigation with several companies involving claims exceeding ₦200 billion.
He expressed confidence that the first phase of the medical facility would be commissioned within the next three months.
