Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that there is a greater and more assuring resolve of his administration to follow his course lawfully to the end of the festering political crisis in the state, urging supporters and all Rivers people to eschew violence and conduct themselves in compliance with the rule of law.
The governor, who declared this on Friday at the venue of the ceremony for the official inauguration of the Emohua-Kalabari (Tema Junction) Road project in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, assured the people that he was on top of the situation.
The project inauguration was performed by the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
Governor Fubara further assured that he would continue to lead the state with the fear of God and guided by the laws of the land, adding that he would never let Rivers people down, including all those who believe in his leadership.
He said, “I want to thank every one of you for your support. I want to thank you, especially for your support during the time of the election—before, during, and the wonderful support we are getting now after the election. And the support is what is shocking the whole world.
“We don’t have any Assembly members, like they said. We don’t have any local government chairman, like they said. But we have the people. Having people is the most important thing. I assure the people that we will not disappoint them.”
He added, “We will lead as a government that has the fear of God and is purposeful for the people. I assure you that we will not let you down. We will not bring any form of disgrace.
“But I am not asking you to be violent. There is no need for it. The most important thing is our course; we will follow it lawfully to the end. And by the special grace of God, we are on top of the situation.”.
Governor Fubara encouraged the people to continue to support the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government and ensure that they are protecting important government installations in Kalabari land.
The Governor observed the troubling issues of unabated illegal bunkering activities and vandalism of critical infrastructure of the state, which have caused a depletion of the inflow of revenue to the federation accounts, saying that the recurring reports of the Nigerian Navy emphasised the preponderance of such activities in the area and tasked youths to stop engaging in such economic sabotage.
Gov. Fubara charged: “When you watch or read most of the reports on the activities by the Nigerian Navy, you will see that a greater part of these bunkering activities are done, especially in this area.
“I want to appeal to you; there are other justifiable and clean means of livelihood. We must not subject ourselves to economic sabotage. Please, I am appealing to you; it is better we desist from it.
“I am going to constitute a very high-powered delegation that will visit these areas and talk to the leadership: the chiefs and the community heads and leaders, so that we can improve on our present state.
“When we have (exploited) more crude oil resources from this area, it brings in more resources (finances) to the state, and it brings more resources to the country. Mr. President can do more projects, and the state can also do more projects. After all, you will want me to do more projects. So, support me in this fight to end illegal bunkering and oil pipeline vandalization.”
Commenting on the Emohua-Kalabari Road project, Governor Fubara said it was awarded on February 18, 2023, by the immediate past administration at the cost of N21.2 billion, but only N6 billion was paid.
He stated that his administration paid the remainder of N15.2 billion and completed 70 per cent of the job to confidently claim it as part of his projects delivered for the good of the people in Kalabari Land.
He said, “Although the Permanent Secretary did mention a few things, and I know that when we leave here, some agents will want to say one thing or the other. So, I came prepared.
“Let me also say it here: maybe Julius Berger Nigeria PLC was being economical with their presentation. On my table, as I am talking to you, there is a request for a variation in the cost of this project.
“This is because, at the time this project was awarded, and while the project was ongoing, there were serious exchange rate differences. But I told them not to worry that they should go ahead and complete this project, and I assured them that we would sort them out, which they accepted.
“That is not even an issue, but the reason why we have to go on this line is just to explain to our people so that you will understand where we were and exactly where we are now.
“Originally, our mantra was supposed to be ‘Consolidation and Continuity’. And if that is our mantra, the success of our administration should not be ascribed to anybody but to the success of the administration, to the success of governance, knowing fully well that one will serve out our tenure and another will continue, and the government is a continuous process.
“But with what we are faced with, we have no other option but to do this explanation so that we will understand the work that we are doing. For those people who say that we have not been doing anything, they will know that we have been doing a lot silently, not with noise or media exaggeration.”
Governor Fubara, who assured that he would continue to deploy the resources of the state to better the conditions of the people, directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to commence the process for the immediate extension of the road from Tema Junction to Abonnema Town.
Performing the inauguration of the project, the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said that the crisis makes some people forget governance but added that Governor Fubara has refused to be distracted but has rather committed to improving the wellbeing of the people.
Senator Dickson noted that the project was a life-changing development endeavour because his experience plying the road when it was deplorable was also unpleasant, saying that that phase was now gone, and joined the people to appreciate Governor Fubara for the feat.
He said, “Today, we have seen what you are doing. When we led that delegation last week to you at Government House, I didn’t know that you were embarking on life-changing projects like this across the length and breadth of this area.
“Not many people will see this and doubt your commitment and your understanding of the imperatives of development. Your love for our people, your love for Rivers people, and your understanding of the challenges facing your people—if anyone was in doubt, looking at this wonderful road, such doubts clearly will be misplaced.”
He praised the governor for what he has achieved in such a short time, despite the deliberate distractions, and urged him to remain focused to do more for the people.
He added that, as a competent accountant, he was sure that the governor will prudently deploy every taxpayer’s sweat into meaningful development projects that will positively impact the majority of the people of the state.
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