Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has crowned himself the victor of the state’s conflict.
He claimed that people behind the crisis wanted him out of power and that because he is still in control, he is the winner, while those who opposed him failed.
Chronicle NG reports that the governor has been having a running battle with the camp of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The scenario caused a schism in the state House of Assembly, with Wike supporters submitting an impeachment petition against the governor.
Members loyal to Fubara later declared their seats vacant after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
President Bola Tinubu later intervened in the situation, resulting in the retraction of the governor’s impeachment notice, among other decisions.
However, speaking at a crossover church service at St. Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the governor said that he had won the battle because he was still the governor.
President Bola Tinubu later intervened in the situation, resulting in the retraction of the governor’s impeachment notice, among other decisions.
However, speaking at a crossover church service at St. Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the governor said that he had won the battle because he was still the governor.
Addressing the congregation, Fubara said, “I want to urge every one of us here: don’t be frightened. What they want is this red biro, but it is still with me; they have failed.
“You are the winner; we are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro, and so long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers State.
“2024 will witness unprecedented heights in our state; the only thing we are asking from every one of you is your support, prayers, and belief in every decision that we take. We are not going to throw any of you under the bus.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
