The governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has disclosed that the state is deeply indebted and that the former administration of Nyesom Wike left behind a massive debt load.
This was said by Governor Fubara on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road, also known as Old Bori Road, in the state’s Eleme Local Government Area.
Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the governor have been at odds about who controls the political landscape in the state.
President Bola Tinubu’s intervention notwithstanding, the two have persisted in their cold war.
Wike had declared multiple times that he was taking the state debt-free.
Speaking at the Eleme commissioning site, however, Governor Fubara said that the majority of the projects that the previous administration had commissioned had not been paid for in full, and that the contractors of the projects who had not received all funding were now coming forward to make up the difference.
The governor claimed he is now forced to speak out after being prodded by his opponents, although he did not provide an estimate of the state’s debt.
He said: “My story as a person will not be complete if Eleme is not mentioned, that is the truth. Maybe, if I have not started from Eleme, I will not get to Level 14.
“At least I started here before I got to Level 14.
“And for the records, this contract was awarded to CCECC on the 14th of August 2023 not by “I” but by this administration and as we go further, we will be going with a White Paper showing the record and amounts this project was awarded.
“This project was awarded at N6.7bn and I can say boldly no kobo is remaining, we have paid the contractor completely without owing. The purpose of this is to let the world know that if there is one problem this administration has it is debts.
“Most of the projects commissioned (by the last administration), the contractors are still coming for their balance payments running into millions and billions. I have said I don’t want to talk because I am part of that system but when they keep pushing me, I will say it so that we will see the nyansh of the fowl.
“But let us leave that one until when they are ready, we will also be ready. The small one we are doing now, they are not sleeping, I wonder what will happen when we do the big one.
“The Problem we have is accumulated debts from the past government.”
Governor Fubara also said he invited his Abia State counterpart, Alex Otti to commission the project, stating that he is committed to aligning with progressive figures.
Otti, for his part, called Fubara’s form of government “true leadership,” emphasizing that true leadership is about serving the needs of the people, not just a select group of people.
In conclusion, Otti feels that the political unrest in Rivers State cannot divert Governor Fubara’s attention.
