Former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has thrown his weight behind Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, endorsing him as the political leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state generally.

Odili, who served as governor from 1999 to 2007, praised Fubara for his steadfast defence of the interests of the people.

With the endorsement, Odili seems to have dumped Nyesom Wike, the immediate-past governor of the state and current FCT minister who has been at loggerhead with Fubara.

Odili and Wike were political allies before Fubara assumed office in May 2023.

Speaking at the commissioning of a Primary Healthcare Centre donated by his PAMO Foundation in Ndoni, his hometown, in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Odili highlighted the strategic significance of Rivers State, noting its pivotal role in national affairs.

He urged Gov. Fubara to govern with a keen awareness of the state’s importance, emphasizing the need for decisions that benefit the entire populace.

Assessing Fubara’s performance, Odili lauded the governor’s achievements in critical sectors within his first year in office, particularly in prioritizing the well-being of the people.

He noted Fubara’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda, which is especially evident in the focus on the health sector, exemplified by the federal government’s recent launch of the Primary Healthcare Fellows scheme.

Odili encouraged Governor Fubara to maintain this alignment with the President and his policies, believing it would attract federal government attention and support to Rivers State.