Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that his administration is still standing strong, delivering dividends of democracy to the people and solving critical problems of governance despite the sudden political crisis that erupted and persisted in the State because of God’s grace.
He added 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.
Fubara spoke on Monday night at the state banquet to celebrate his first one year in office, and 57th anniversary of the creation of Rivers State at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said while others were celebrating one full year of service to the people, he has only actually been in control of real governance characterised by prudence, purposefulness and protection of the interest of the State in the last four months.
Under his watch, Fubara said the 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.”
Governor Fubara further said, “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 everybody 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.”
Fubara insisted that his purpose in government is to deliver the dividends of democracy to Rivers people, which will not be compromised.
The governor said: “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.”
He urged the people to see the project as an effort towards the expansion of the State and ensuring that development extends to other parts of Rivers State away from the centre of Port Harcourt City.
“I don’t want to talk about the Port Harcourt Ring Road. That already you know is ongoing. It is already on a familiar ground.
“Are we talking about the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road? Those are things we are doing to tell our people that we are interested in the development of the State.
“We all know the situation of our healthcare services in this State. It is not pretending! What you call the BMHS – the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) – might be functioning but what about the zonal hospitals? What about the general hospitals?”
In his speech, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, said as the state marks its 57th anniversary and first one year in office of Governor Fubara, a book on the Old Rivers State is also being unveiled, written by a cross section of elites, intellectuals and leaders from Rivers and Bayelsa states.
Danagogo said, “You will agree with me that in the past one year, His Excellency has proven his mettle by maintaining peace and security all across the State, completing most of the ongoing projects we met on assumption of office, and initiating several crucial new projects all across the State.
“I am sure you all know, projects like the Unity Road (the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Road) which was started by our father, Dr Peter Odili and successive governments took it up to Opobo, and Ikuru Town axis, he has within one year taken it up to Ngo Town, the headquarters of Andoni local government area.
“I am sure you also know that the Port Harcourt Ring Road was on the drawing board for more than 20 years, and within one year, he has awarded the contract. I am sure you also see it on the road that Julius Berger is at jet-speed to achieve it within record time.”
