…political platform spearheaded by his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike
By Sam Ovie
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Published on July 23, 2026
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4 min read
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and the governorship ambition of Hon. Kingsley Chinda ahead of the 2027 General Election, signalling what he described as the end of the prolonged political crisis in the state.
The governor also announced his alignment with the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform spearheaded by his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike, saying the coalition would unite members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State ahead of the polls.
Fubara made the declaration on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Riven Medical Industries Project in Port Harcourt, where he said all political differences in the state had been resolved in the interest of peace, unity and development.
According to him, the reconciliation among political stakeholders marks a new chapter for Rivers State, urging his supporters to set aside past grievances and rally behind the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition.
“We have made peace in the state and I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our president, and is the one we are supporting. OK Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support him and every other candidate that is under the Rainbow Coalition,” Fubara said.
The governor stressed that he had returned to what he described as his political family and urged his supporters across the state to fully embrace the coalition.
“I’ve gone back to our family. So, please, whoever you are, give your total support to the Rainbow Coalition. We need to move forward. The time of war is over. It is time for peace and this peace is taking us to another level,” he stated.
Fubara also warned against any attempt to use his name to promote political divisions, insisting that his position was clear and unambiguous.
“I want this to be made clear to everybody. So, don’t go anywhere and say you’re supporting Fubara. No. No. No. My position is this: I have said it here and clearly for everyone to hear. If you’re not hearing we’ll use cotton wool to clean your ears and let it enter well. I’m not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do and we are moving forward,” he added.
Governor hails pharmaceutical investment
Speaking on the Riven Medical Industries Project, Governor Fubara described the initiative as a major milestone in Rivers State’s drive towards industrialisation, improved healthcare and economic diversification.
He, however, cautioned against a repeat of previous investment failures, noting that some investors had, in the past, failed to fulfil contractual obligations, resulting in prolonged legal disputes.
According to the governor, his administration approved the project after satisfying itself that the new investors possess the technical and financial capacity to revive the moribund facility and deliver long-term economic benefits.
He directed the investors to adhere strictly to the implementation schedule and ensure that the first phase of the project is completed within three months.
Fubara also appealed to the host communities and the leadership of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to provide maximum cooperation to guarantee the successful execution of the project.
He pledged the Rivers State Government’s continued support to ensure the project’s success.
Project to boost local drug production
The governor explained that the Riven Medical Industries Project is being developed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Rivers State Government and Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.
He said the project would be executed through Riven Medical Industries Limited, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established by Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited to redevelop the former Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) into a modern pharmaceutical manufacturing complex.
According to Fubara, the completed facility will manufacture pharmaceutical formulations, gelatin capsules, intravenous (IV) infusions and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).
He noted that the project would significantly increase Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical production capacity, reduce dependence on imported medicines, strengthen the country’s healthcare value chain and improve medicine security.
The governor further said the investment is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, facilitate technology transfer, attract local and foreign investments and position Rivers State as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Nigeria and across the West African sub-region.
He described the groundbreaking ceremony as the beginning of a transformative investment that demonstrates his administration’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth, economic diversification, quality healthcare and strategic partnerships capable of delivering long-term value for the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.
