The Opopo kinsmen of the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have cried out over what they described as the manner their brother and governor has abandoned them, even in the face of natural disaster that recently wrecked havoc in the area.
The Opobo kingdom was recently ravaged by rainstorm, which destroyed properties, farmlands worth millions of naira and rendered thousands of people homeless in Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of Rivers state.
It was gathered that collosal damages affected more than 20 communities where several buildings roofs were pulled down across Ngo, Oyorokoto, Ekede and Ikuru towns.
Also affected are Okoroboile, Chiekmoluk, Oboloiluk, Agbama, Otuokporo, Ebukumaija and Okoloile, as well as some fishing settlements along the Ikuru town beach
The storm, according to a statement on Thursday by a youth forum in Opobo, United Progressives, its coordinator, Senibo Fenibo (JP) and Secretary, Hanson Mac-Pepple, said the rainstorm
also damaged buildings at Opobo town, and all its satellite communities including Minima, Okpukpo, Queenstown Epelema and others.
Regretting that Governor Fubara has abandoned his people at a time of their need, the statement regretted that the governor who is their kinsmen has looked the other way, while his people now live as destitutes following the collosal damage by the rainstorms
The statement noted further that 21 houses were pulled down in Obolo Iluk, nine in Agbama, nine at Otuokporo and nine at Ebukumaija amongst others in Opobo
The youth forum, which called for help from government and individuals regretted that despite the outcry, their son the Rivers state governor has neither visited his dying relatives nor sent a government delegation to inspect and know the level of damage caused by the havoc.
Governor Fubara was further accused of having neglected his people and lack of adequate communication since he took the over the reigns of power in the state, despite the total support he has received
They noted that Governor Fubara has received strong support from the people of Opobo who had stood solidly behind him even as he battles for his seat, and wondered why he had chosen to abandon them at this critical period.
“We are by this medium expressing the disappoint of the good people of Opobo kingdom on our brother and kinsman, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has left us to suffer and live like destitute in the face of the serious havoc that the damaging rainstorm wrecked in our communities.”
