Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu, urging support for his re-election to sustain ongoing reforms and development strides.
Fubara made this appeal on Thursday at the meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council in Port Harcourt, where monarchs from the 17 southern states gathered to discuss unity, security and economic growth.
The governor noted that despite prevailing challenges, the current administration has recorded meaningful progress in economic recovery and infrastructure delivery, citing projects such as the coastal road construction.
He emphasised the importance of leadership continuity, stating that “it is not ideal to change the goalposts in the middle of the game”.
Fubara called on stakeholders across the southern region to collaborate in pursuit of common goals, stressing that unity remains essential for achieving lasting development.
He also remarked that the presence of traditional rulers at the event highlights Rivers State’s peaceful environment and its capacity to host major national engagements.
Earlier, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who chairs the Southern Traditional Rulers Council, said the gathering was aimed at promoting peace and reinforcing unity across the region.
He pointed out that the council reflects Nigeria’s rich diversity, with more than 400 dialects spoken across the southern states, describing the meeting as a clear example of unity in diversity.
Ogunwusi added that the Port Harcourt session marked the fourth in the series, following previous meetings held in Imo, Ogun, and Lagos states.
According to him, the forum allows traditional rulers to engage on shared values and collective interests that unite their people.
He further stated that the council would explore ways to support the current administration in tackling security and economic issues, noting that although participation is voluntary, it is vital for repositioning both the region and the nation.
The meeting drew prominent traditional rulers from the South-South, South-East, and South-West, including the council’s co-chairman, the Obi of Obinugwu, Eze Cletus Illomuanya, and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
