Rivers Gov Fubara Laments, Says Early Stage Of Administration Wasted On Political Crisis

By Ayodele Oni

While other governors that were sworn in along with him on May 29, 2023, are celebrating one year in office, Rivers State Governor,  Siminalayi Fubara, has said his administration is just four months old in office.

Fubara’s remark may be due to the unending political crisis, which almost consumed him, spearheaded by his predecessor in office, Nyesome Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

The Governor, however, noted  that despite this, his administration is still standing strong, delivering dividends of democracy to the people and solving critical problems of governance.

Fubara said that the successes recorded so far were possible because God has been graciously upholding the government, offering it the right direction and giving him the strength to carry on.

A statement by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the  Governor stated that Fubara spoke at the State Banquet to celebrate his first one year in office and 57th Anniversary of the creation of Rivers State at Government House in Port Harcourt.

He pointed out  that while others were celebrating one full year of service to the people, he has only actually been in control of real governance characterized by prudence, purposefulness and protection of the interest of the State in the last four months.

He said that under his watch, Rivers State Government has provided “Governance that has the interest of our people at heart. Governance that is prudent. Governance that has respect for you: all of you.

“We decided to have this banquet today to say: thank you, thank you and thank you to everyone of you. You have supported us.”

“The last time I had this opportunity to dine with you was on 1st of January, 2024, and you know, the mood was not like this. We never knew we could even stand up till today.

“You see the reason why we need to give God all the glory. It is very simple: one thing is very important and unique; we are succeeding because we are on the side of God.”

“It is not just standing on the side of God; because every body professes to be standing on the side of God, even the native doctor would call on God.”

“But what is important is God being in your business. God is in our business. And because He is in our business, we will continue to survive, no matter where they are coming from.”

Governor Fubara insisted that his purpose in government is to deliver the dividends of democracy to Rivers people, which will not be compromised.

“It takes somebody who loves this State genuinely to embark on a project like the Trans-Kalabari Road. I am not from that axis of the riverine, where somebody would say I’m doing it because I’m from there. No. That project alone will cost this government over N225billion.

“But so far, to show our commitment that we are not just saying that we want to do it, we have started it, and we believe in delivering it.

“We believe that when this project is completely delivered, security issues will be reduced, development will come to our people in far remote areas that you could hitherto only traverse through the sea, issues of water piracy will be gone, including issues of boat mishaps that we keep recording.”