Rivers Governorship: Ogoni Sim Vanguard Elated Over Sim’s Victory, Holds Post Election Dinner

…Commends Gov Wike’s Inspirational Leadership

…PDP Has Shown What Democracy Is All About – Marvin Yobana

As a mark of self motivation for a job well done, a pro-PDP support group, Ogoni Sim Vanguard has organized a dinner to celebrate the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 Governorship Election in Rivers State.

The event which held at the Le Meridian Hotel, GRA in Port Harcourt on Monday, attracted the presence of the leadership and members of the group, in their numbers. Also present were former and serving Commissioners and their House of Assembly counterparts as well as chieftains of the PDP.

Speaking at the event, founder of OSV, Comrade Marvin Yobana said the group is elated because it’s aim and objective have been realized.

Yobana said the group was formed to dispel the insinuation that governorship is meant for an ethic group.

He said: “That’s why we came out to prove to them that governorship is for Rivers people and not for any particular ethnic group or groups.

“The PDP chose our senatorial district to lead the state for the next four years. It is wrong for our people to think that until governorship is micro-zoned to a particular ethnic zone, it is not yet Uhuru for our senatorial district.

The renowned youths activist and immediate past African Representative of the World Assembly of Youths, said they went home and listened to their leaders and elders who encouraged them to go ahead and preached the gospel, adding, “Today, we are here having a victory dinner”.

Comrade Yobana who is the pioneer President of the Ogoni Youths Council (OYC) as well as former National Vice President of Nigerian Youth Council (NYC), thanked Governor Nyesom Wike for what he called inspirational leadership and direction, even as he once more congratulated the leadership and members of the OSV, and urged them to support the incoming administration of Sir Sim Fubara.

He assured that their labour would not be in vain as according to him, both the outgoing and incoming governor held them in high esteem.

Comrade Yobana thanked Governor Wike for his inroads in infrastructural development, adding that PDP in the state has shown the rest of the country what democracy is all about.

“He has spent money on infrastructural development and other sectors including healthcare, education and the judiciary.  Now we have a Law School in Rivers State and you are telling me that the state is not safe. People are even lobbying to come to the Law School in Rivers State”, he said.

Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol congratulated the group for being used as veritable channels to advance the course of the emergence of Sir Siminialayi Fubara as incoming governor of the state.

“When it comes to destiny, it is in the hands of God which no man can decide. Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that builds”, he said, adding that Sir Sim Fubara has satisfied all that is required in a governor of the state.

He went on: “There was the need for a younger person to be governor, Sim satisfied that. There was need for a technocrat, he is a technocrat.  There was need for a riverine governor, he is a riverine governor.  There was need for a South East Senatorial governor, he also satisfied that. So, Sim Fubara became the conglomeration of all the desires of Rivers people”, and patted them on the back for making the right choice on the governo-elect.

On the personality of the incoming governor-elect, Sir Sim Fubara, Kpakol had this to say:  “I’ve been privileged to work with him as Finance Commissioner; and I tell you he is an interesting person to work with. He is very humble, articulate, hardworking, precise, and above all, he is very teachable and ready to learn”.

The Agriculture Commissioner urged the OSV not to relent in their support for the incoming administration, adding that there is need to educate and sensitize people at the grassroot on the need to complement the efforts of government to engender peace and unity among them.

In his speech, member representing Eleme constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Igwe Oforji described Sim’s victory as victory for Ogoni people, adding that the OSV was the driver of the victory.

 “At every point in a struggle, some person or persons make sacrifices to actualize the struggle.  In the instance of the governorship election, OSV made that sacrifice for the people of Rivers State.

“To be a governor in Rivers State, you need the Ogonis.  OSV decided to go into the nooks and crannies of Ogoniland and asked them to vote for the PDP candidate who is also our own son.  let it be said clearly, that even the governor, outgoing and incoming understood the sentiment that Ogoni is ripe for governorship, but because there is time for everything and power comes from God, we have to wait for our own turn”, he told the people, adding that because Ogoni has paid the price today, they would get the support of other ethnic groups when their turn comes tomorrow.

Speaking in the same vein, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ehie Eddison, congratulated the group on their victory in delivering Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the next governor of the state.

Represented by Hon. Opunde Lolo, commended them for taking a non-tribalized stance from what he called known ‘scavengers’, in the politics of the state.  These scavengers, he said, made spirited efforts at blackmailing their perceived enemies.  He however, commended the group for taking holistic and bold stance to reject the blackmailers.

The Deputy Speaker who described OSV’s founder, Ambassador Marvin Yobana as an outstanding leader, urged the members to rally around and give him the needed support to continue with the good works he began.

“I wish to advice that you avoid unverifiable rumours particularly on the social media.  They can blackmail your leader just like they blackmailed you that it is Ogoni turn.  Now that you have succeeded, the only way they can get to you is to work on you against your leader.  Please, endeavour to verify any rumour peddled against your leader”, he pleaded.