By Egufe Yafugborhi
NIGERIA’S Ex-International football star and founder, The Christ Ambassadors Church, Bishop Peterside Idah, says the 2023 elections were over and it’s time for Rivers state people to eschew rancour and rally around the incoming governor, Simibialayi Fubara, to take the state to the next level.
Peterside Idah, one time Nigeria’s senior soccer team’s goaltender, appealed for calm, reconciliation and support for Fubara in his post-2023 Rivers guber comments against dissenting voices challenging the outcome of the election by Fubara landslide.
He said, “Let’s allow the man to work. Yes, people have been complaining, but then, there has been no election in Nigeria where people have not complained. Even across the world, not everybody is happy when you’re not on the winning side.
“But Rivers is our state. How long are we going to continue to fight? How long are we going to continue to disagree with one another? I’m glad the incoming governor said my doors are open, even my windows are wide open. To interpret what he meant, he was apparently saying I know some people would not want to come out openly for genuine reconciliation.
“But if those in that category send those who can come openly to say on their behalf that they are willing to give their support, we will warmly receive you, then there can be reconciliation. Interestingly, everyone who contested the 2023 Rivers guber is my friend, in different ways.
“Dumo Lulu-Briggs is my very close friend, we grew up together in the same house. Sen Magnus Abe, my very good friend. During my bid for the NFF presidency, Abe made one or two important calls for me. Tonye Cole, I don’t know too well, but he is a Port Harcourt boy like me.
“And Siminialayi Fubara, who won the governorship, is a person I’ve known even before now. He’s a gentleman to the core. Very gentle and with him in charge, running this state, there will be so much peace. He’s a very calm man, very generous, somebody you can easily relate with. “Now people can start planning for/the next four years. Elections will always come and everytime it comes, people will say Nigeria will scatter, it will break, but the reality remains that Nigeria has not scattered. We love ourselves so much.
“I just believe Rivers state is stepping into a new face with Sim (Fubara) at the helm. Everybody should rally round and support him. When there is peace, there will be a lot of development. Sports will grow and I’m a sportsman.”
Responding to dissenting voices wondering why a Peterside is openly supporting the Governor-elect, Idah said, “Yes the Petersides are predominantly APC, but I’m not a politician. I don’t belong to any political party, but I love Rivers state. I’ve come back to Nigeria, and leave here in Port Harcourt, so I can see things dispassionately.
The post Rivers: It’s time to allow Fubara work, Peterside urges Rivers people appeared first on Vanguard News.