Former Presidential Candidate Urges Gov. Fubara to Tackle Poverty in Rivers State

Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a former presidential candidate, has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to make poverty alleviation his top priority as he resumes office following a six-month suspension.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Nuhu Agum, Senior Special Assistant at PMACO, Prof. Adesanya-Davies challenged the governor to act urgently in response to the alarming poverty levels in the state. Citing the recently released Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2025, the professor highlighted that Rivers State currently ranks 23rd out of Nigeria’s 37 states, with an estimated 62.4% of its population—about 4.4 million people—living in multidimensional poverty.

“Rivers State can’t wait to welcome you back, Governor Fubara—but this return must be marked by action. It is time to lift the people out of poverty,” Adesanya-Davies said.

The MPI data, reported by The Cable on September 8, placed states like Sokoto, Bayelsa, and Gombe at the top of the poverty chart. Rivers State, despite its wealth of natural resources and strategic economic position, fell behind more than half of the country in terms of poverty levels.

Prof. Adesanya-Davies urged the governor to learn from successful initiatives in other states, referencing Cross River’s recent program which disbursed over N1.6 billion to local communities as part of its poverty reduction strategy.

“Rivers must embrace a multifaceted approach to development—starting with investment in education, job creation, timely salary payments, infrastructure, and social welfare for the most vulnerable,” she advised.

The professor also stressed the need to properly fund the education sector and recognize the contributions of educators, saying:

“Professors should be paid at par with judges, especially given the federal allocations to states. Education is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty.”

Adesanya-Davies described the persistent poverty in Rivers State as “unacceptable,” especially considering the state’s abundant oil wealth and economic potential. She emphasized that political will and strategic planning are crucial to reversing the current trajectory.

“We need to see tangible results—not just promises. The people of Rivers deserve better,” she said.

She further called on Governor Fubara to engage with a wide range of stakeholders—including civil society, community leaders, and the private sector—to develop a comprehensive poverty alleviation plan tailored to the unique needs of the state.

“With visionary leadership and targeted policy implementation, Rivers State can significantly improve its poverty ranking and become a model for others,” she concluded.

Governor Fubara, who has recently returned to office amid political reconciliation efforts, is yet to issue a formal response to the challenge.