Former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili, has said the state stands to gain significantly from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the move aligns Rivers with the party at the centre.

Odili, who is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, spoke at the university’s 8th Founders’ Day, 5th Convocation Ceremony, and the award of first degrees and prizes to graduating students over the weekend.

He urged Rivers people to rally behind Governor Fubara in his new political platform to attract greater dividends of democracy to the state and support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

According to Odili, the governor’s decision places Rivers State in a better position to access federal opportunities, given that both the state and the President now belong to the same political party.

He praised the achievements of President Tinubu, Governor Fubara and the APC-led government, particularly in the health sector, describing the political realignment as timely and beneficial.

“The alignment of Rivers State with the federal government is perfect. We support it, we encourage it because our people are in the kitchen where the national cake is baked.

“If you take a look at all those who work in the kitchen, they eat better than everybody else and they look better than everybody else. Let Rivers people align with the Federal Government behind our governor to ensure that the best that the state can get, we get it,” Odili said.

Also speaking at the event, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said Nigeria requires unity, resilience and divine intervention to overcome the security challenges confronting the country.

Abubakar, who is the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, expressed confidence that Nigeria would surmount its security difficulties and restore peace and stability.