Seven councillors of Ahoada East Legislative Assembly including the the leader, Rt. Hon. ThankGod Bernard Unwhe have declared their support and loyalty to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and the State Government.

The councillors, representing eight electoral wards in the 13-ward LGA, expressed their commitment to mobilise their supporters to key into the Governor’s policies and programmes to advance good governance in the State.

All eight councillors were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and were also top leaders of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) before they took the decision to join and rally behind the SIMplified Movement in the interest of the State.

A statement signed by Nelson Chukwudi, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary on Thursday, disclosed that the eight councillors made their position known during a crucial meeting presided over by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Edison Ehie, at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday evening.

The eight councillors, who spoke separately during the meeting, said their action was voluntary and necessary to ensure that the people in their various communities were not left behind in the wind of change blowing across the 23 LGAs of the State.

On the issue of who should be the leader of the party in the State, they stated that “as provided by the Constitution of our party, the Governor of the State at any given point in time is the leader of the party. Not only the PDP. Even other parties have the same rule. Therefore, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as Governor of the State, remains the leader of PDP and Number One Citizen of the State.”

They said that the people can only enjoy the benefits of liberation in the SIMplified Family because everybody had equal opportunities to participate freely in socio-economic and political activities without harassment and intimidation.

Responding, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who hails from the same local government area, encouraged the eight new members of the SIMplified Movement to remain steadfast and resolute in their support for the Governor.

He assured them of the Governor’s determination to carry everybody along, saying that Rivers people have nothing to worry about as his Administration will not renege on any of his campaign promises.

Besides Unwhe, the other seven councillors include Rt. Hon. Ogenma Idalunimulu for Ward 6;

Hon. Beatrice Abraham representing Ward 1; Hon. Bright Uwandu representing Ward 2; Hon. Princewill Aguiyi for Ward 4; Hon. Livingstone Alali for Ward 9; Hon. Bob Ololube for Ward 12; and Hon. Edi Chituru representing Ward 13. (Daily Independent: Text, Excluding Headline)