Fubara Backs Tinubu’s Re-election, Warns Against Changing Goalpost Mid-Game

Fubara made the statement on Saturday while declaring open a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The gathering brought together monarchs from the 17 southern states of the federation.

While acknowledging the economic and governance challenges facing the country, the governor maintained that the present administration has recorded notable progress, particularly in the areas of economic recovery and infrastructure development, including key coastal road projects.

He stressed the importance of policy continuity, warning against abrupt changes in governance direction. “It is not ideal to change the goalpost in the middle of the game,” he said, underscoring the need for consistency to sustain current gains.

Fubara also called on political leaders, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to deepen collaboration in pursuit of shared developmental objectives, adding that unity remains essential for peace, stability, and economic advancement across the southern region.

He further described Rivers State’s role as host of the meeting as evidence of its relative peace and capacity to accommodate significant national engagements.

Speaking at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who chairs the council, said the meeting was convened to strengthen unity among southern communities and encourage peaceful coexistence.

He noted that the region’s cultural diversity, reflected in its numerous dialects, should be seen as a unifying strength rather than a source of division. The monarch added that the forum also provides traditional rulers with a platform to deliberate on shared concerns and complement government efforts in addressing security and driving development.

He emphasized that although participation in the council is voluntary, the engagement remains crucial for fostering regional cooperation and contributing to national progress.

The meeting attracted prominent traditional rulers from the South-South, South-East, and South-West geopolitical zones, highlighting renewed calls for collective action in addressing the region’s socio-economic and security challenges.