The Supreme Council for SIM, a socio-political organization focused on galvanizing support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has revealed why there is functional, organic and generic support across political divides in the State for the Governor.

Coordinator of the group in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Benjamin Ibietonye made this disclosure on Sunday, December 1, 2024 in an interview with Kristina Reports shortly after a Special Thanksgiving for the successful inauguration of its Bonny Chapter and its leadership at the Christ Army Church (CAC), Bonny, Rivers State.

Coordinator, Bonny LGA, Supreme Council for SIM, Benjamin Ibietonye

According to him, the inauguration, which took place on Saturday, November 16, 2024 in Bonny, was conducted by the national leadership of the group, for the executives for the 12 Wards in Bonny LGA and LGA Officers and Leaders.

“This group is specifically a political organization that would support Amaopusenibo Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State. We believe in his political ideology. We believe in what he is doing for Rivers State and we will not fold our arms and watch anybody truncate governance in Rivers State as a result of wanting to foist what is not constitutional on the Governor.”

“Therefore, we are supporting the Governor and this is a show of solidarity and thanksgiving for that successful inauguration.”

He reeled out various reasons ranging from his display of wisdom to his peaceful disposition, self-restraint, being averse to power corruption, and love for Rivers State as to why Governor Fubara is endeared to the people of the State.

“I think I will say that the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is a godsend at this particular point in time because if you observe the political trajectory in Rivers State or in Nigeria you will find that if this particular issue had happened in any other State there would have been death all over the State.

But the wisdom that God gave to the Governor and his peaceful disposition in attending to this matter makes everybody in Rivers State even without doubt to support the Governor.

He is truly a godsend; otherwise Rivers State would have been on fire. And he has a way of achieving without being noisy. Even in the midst of this brouhaha, you see him still achieving not minding the distraction.

I am sure that some governors wouldn’t have allowed a sitting local government chairman to insult him whilst he sat as a Governor. But Sir Siminalayi tolerated all those…with all the insult that was rained on him. So when you look at the man, the way the man lives his life will be enough reason for you to know whether you will support such person or you will not support such a person.”

“Ordinarily without mincing words, even if I am not a politician, looking at Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s peaceful disposition is enough for me to say, ‘if this man is standing election I am going to vote for him.”

He asserted that “without him (Fubara) we know what happened when we were carrying hands up. Any point you reach you carry your hands up. If it was another person that was Governor at this time, believe you me, Rivers State would have been on fire”.

“May God bless the Governor, bless Sir Siminalayi Fubara and God who said in His word that I will fight your battles and you shall hold your peace, it’s only God that will fight this battle and the Governor will hold his peace. And we believe in Bonny that Sir Siminalayi will finish his first tenure and we will vote into his second tenure in Jesus name.”

Also speaking, a chieftain of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Fubara Hart stated that Governor Fubara has endeared himself to the people of Rivers State because of his honesty, integrity, prudence, respect for all, commitment to the peace and progress of the State.

“There’s no secrecy. It is just accountability, respect, devoid of fraud. He is not a fraudulent man. You must have heard that he was the one covering for Wike. In fact, whatever assignment you give to him, just go home and sleep.”

“But his respect does not mean that he is a coward. He is an erudite fellow. If you push a man to the wall he will bounce back. That does not mean that he does not respect you. He respects you quite alright. But above all he is a very prudent person and not corrupt.”

“If it were any other Governor he would have gone for loans here and there bearing in mind that his predecessor didn’t leave anything for him. But he has said that he will continue, it is Rivers first, that is his mantra and he is delivering the dividends of democracy to everybody in nooks and crannies of Rivers State.

He stated that unlike his predecessor, Governor Fubara has remained tolerant of opposition and giving room for diversity of opinions, stressing that in the previous dispensation, tyranny was the disposition of the then administration, pointing out that the incumbent Governor is ensuring there is a paradigm shift.

“He has respect for everyone. In fact, he demystified governance. At Government House, he jokes with everybody. He likes people.”

“You have just talked of Supreme Council for SIM, it is a social political body, nobody is forced to come. It is just voluntary. Sim doesn’t even know about this. People donate their money; people contribute their money. It is organic. It is allowed for everybody, anybody that wants to do away with what I would call demonic rulership that we experienced in the past because in the past we were endevilished.”

“Critics went into hiding because immediately you mention something they will locate your land where it is, revoke the C of O and demolish your house. Even if it is your business place, hotels were not spared. It happened in Eleme, it happened in Port Harcourt.”

In attendance at the Special Thanksgiving Service were the Prelate and President of Synod, Christ Army Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Most Reverend Dappa Opubo Abbey, Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, past and present political officeholders, members of the Traditional Institution, party stalwarts, women groups, and youth bodies, amongst others