Tag: Fubara

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has told local government caretaker committee chairmen to either empower their people or face removal.

Fubara, who spoke through Victor Oko-Jumbo, at the unveiling of the empowerment programme in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, emphasised that the primary responsibility of the chairmen was to serve their people.

Oko-Jumbo, who is factional  Rivers Speaker,  asked them to learn from the Governor’s commitment to empower the people.

He highlighted Fubara’s bold response to the August 1 hunger protest, showcasing his connection with the people.

Oko-Jumbo emphasised that officials must follow the governor’s lead, increasing empowerment initiatives in their respective local governments. 

He said: “Any caretaker committee Chairman that is not empowering his people we will remove that person. 

“Your duty is for your people first, it is to your people. Today, we are here to witness that empowerment which was the instruction the governor gave.”

Oko-Jumbo assured the Governor of uninterrupted support until 2027 and beyond.

 He praised the unified leadership of Ikwerre LGA for standing firm with the governor, resulting in development for the people.

Read Also: Sultan, Wike, Obaseki, Fubara, Adegboruwa seek dialogue

He said: “Let me use this medium to assure our people that the Rivers State House Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo will Continue to give the governor the needed support so that the state must succeed till 2027.

“We will make sure that the Governor will have uninterrupted four years of governance in this state. And if you permit, he will have another four years. 

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank the leadership of Ikwerre LGA, I believe that at this stage the entire leadership is there because it has been unified and has stood firm with the Governor and it is because of the unity that you are now seeing development to our people.”

Fubara warned chairmen that failure to conduct further empowerment programmes would result in invitations to account for their actions.

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has recounted how his enemies made frantic efforts to frustrate the concluded Rivers Economic Summit saying they went as far as calling some dignitaries to avoid the event.

Fubara spoke when he received the report on the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024 from the Central Organising Committee at Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The governor said: “I can boldly say here that most of the people that were invited as guests, some elements who didn’t wish us well, called them privately, asking them not to be part of the programme. 

“They went as far as even, on the second day of the programme, because they did not expect somebody, a very notable person to be part of it, they tried to dissuade the person. 

“These same elements organised a protest so that we will not have our way. But at the end of the day, God also made it possible that we had the programme and the programme was successful.”

Fubara appreciated the efforts of members of the committee especially the people of Rivers who stood by the government and provided the needed support that made the summit a success.

He vowed to spend his days in office working assiduously towards rebuilding the economy of the state beyond crude oil and gas. 

Fubara said his government would leverage on the opportunity created by the summit to attract investments into the state to make life better for the people.

He said: “Our state used to be one of the best. We had all the companies here, and all the oil companies were here also. They started here, and life was good (for our people) here. 

“I know fully well that no matter how strong a man is, the strong man will die (one day). But when you have a strong policy, and you have strong institutions, those institutions will live forever.

“So, what we did and what happened, we tried bringing intellectuals to brainstorm for the purpose of building a State with the strong economy so that tomorrow, people will not be struggling to become governors because of the good economy of the state.”

He said following the 15-point recommendations in the report submitted to him, his administration would take steps to establish an Investment Promotion Agency to coordinate all business-related engagements.

The governor said: “I read flashes of thoughts written by one Prince of Dubai. How did Dubai start? They started with having an Investment Promotion Agency. That means, if you are coming into the State, you have where to go, you are asked what you have to offer, and you say these are the things I have to offer.

“The agency will have all the solutions to inquiries. If any of such inquiries is beyond them, they know where to seek the attention of the higher authorities.

“With that, you can see business moving smoothly, investors will have the opportunity to interact. Even if they are not seeing the governor directly, they are interacting with the right body. Assurances are there, confidence is there, and quick decision-making is also there.

“I will also assure, not just this committee because I know by next year, you might not even be the people that are going to coordinate it, but we must have it as a policy of the state, that every year, we will bring people together. Look at what we have done, what we need to do, and what we can also achieve, then plan for the future.

“I can say it boldly, when we came on board, we looked at the activities of the internal revenue board. They were doing so little. So, we had to set up a technical committee. This technical committee worked out some modalities that improved our IGR. 

“Today, I can make bold to say that our IGR in a year, so far, what they had then cannot be compared to what we have now. So, I strongly believe that if we come together, work as a team, we will have a better State where these issues that we are having today: economic hardship, which is the main thing, will be addressed.”

Presenting the report on the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024, the chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Chibeoso Aholu, said the government must “initiate appropriate policy and legislative framework that will improve ease of doing business and create a conducive business-friendly environment in the state.

“The government should revive and recapitalise PABOD Finance, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, and Micro Finance Bank, to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

“The immediate establishment of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency as recommended by the summit. A draft Executive Order for the establishment of the Agency is here attached.

“Take measures to resuscitate the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout and establish new industrial business districts, including the agricultural processing zone and a Free Trade Zone in the State.

“Take steps to provide necessary policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks to promote and advance the development of the Rivers State Blue Economy; and take practical steps to address the incessant demands and unending disruptions from communities, community groups, youths, which have caused the departure of many companies in the state.”

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has told protesters to be patient, insisting that after the ongoing phase of hardship, life will be better.

Fubara acknowledged the realities of the current harsh economic conditions but maintained that it would be for a short time with the commitment of President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to secure a better future for all Nigerians.

He appealed to all residents in the state to be patient with President Tinubu to allow his policies to materialise and yield fruits for the good of all.

He assured that his administration would not relent in continuing to attend to their basic needs while creating an atmosphere of economic prosperity for all.

Fubara spoke at the gates of Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday when he addressed a group of youths on the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The governor thanked the youths for being peaceful with their protest and urged them to ensure that they were not instigated by anybody to resort to violence.

He said: “So, like I said before, I want to thank you for being peaceful. I already know your problems, and we will communicate them to the federal government.

“But you see, this particular protest that you are doing now, our only worry is that we know a lot of people are planning to take advantage of this protest to destroy our State. But, we will not allow it.

“Like I said, it is not easy, but we know quite alright that very soon, everything will be well. Starting from our State, everything will be well.

“What we just need is for you to support the government and its policies. Implementing policies, at the beginning, must be harsh, but at the end, everything will be fine.”

 Fubara said his administration would stick to the tenets of good governance, and take decisive actions to address the growing economic hardship in the state.

He said: “But like I said yesterday, I am one of you. I feel your pain, and in our government here, we are doing everything to make life easy for our people.

“We are going to make sure that we make life easy for you. Our youths, I agree with you that there is hunger, but because we preach good governance, we are committed to making hunger disappear very soon.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring that there was continued peace despite the ongoing protest in the state.

Read Also: Shun proposed protest, Fubara urges Rivers

He insisted that his administration would support the youths, and work for their wellbeing, but warned that it would not tolerate anybody that would use the protest to cause anarchy.

The governor said: “I am not against your protest, but we will not support any violent protest. We will not support anything that will destroy our State. We will not join forces with the enemy of progress (to destabilise our State).

“I know, maybe, some elements have taken it upon themselves to want to make governance difficult in our State, penetrating through this means to create additional problems. We won’t allow it.

“But if it has to do with the (peaceful) protesters, I don’t have any fears. Their demands are germane. I can understand them: hardship, bad governance, high cost of living, rent, medical bills. But we are coming from somewhere very bad. And we must start from somewhere to make things right.

“The initial policies, at the centre, might not be friendly but at the end of it, if we are patient and tolerant, there is no way the policies will not yield positive results and development for our state.”

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that there is credible intelligence that some mercenaries and thugs have been hired from outside the state in the guise of protest, to destroy valuable infrastructures in the state.

The governor said that such plot was ticking despite the resolve of Rivers residents not to participate in the planned 10-day  nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1.

Fubara made the revelation when he addressed representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), stakeholders of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Rivers State ethnic and youth groups, and Port Harcourt Motor Spare Parts Dealers Union, Ikoku Branch, among others at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Nelson Chukwudi, insisted that several public and clandestine activities of the self-styled detractors over the last months were clear indications that Rivers had unrepentant enemies, who would  do everything possible within their means to destabilize the state.

Fubara said: “You are already aware of the political situation of our State where people are looking for every avenue to destabilise this State. We don’t need to give them that opportunity to carry out that act. 

“And that is the reason why I, representing the government, and the service commanders, have always been in touch with you all, pleading that we should shelve this protest. And even if you have to do it, we should do it in a way and manner that it will not get out of control.

“I have information that you don’t have. I am aware of the people that are being hired to come into this State to cause mayhem. If anything happens here, we are going to be the greatest losers. Our property will be destroyed. Our economy will be destroyed. And when they finish, they will go back to their states.

“Look at what has happened in Kenya. It will take them another 20 years to rebuild those things that are being destroyed. In Rivers State, we are not that financially buoyant to now start retrogressing where we have already passed. Instead of maintaining and increasing what we have, we will be thinking of rebuilding, if destroyed. Let us not allow it happen.”

Fubara acknowledged the prevailing economic hardship that Nigerians weee facing but quickly added that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, was taking believable actions geared towards addressing the current hardship and securing a better future for the people.

The governor urged the activists to look at all the angles to the reasons proffered by the organisers of the planned protest so that they did not just embrace it to please persons who were aggrieved because the system did not favour them.

Fubara pointed to steps the administration had taken to meet the expectations and address challenges of Rivers residents while also supporting what the Federal Government was doing.

He said:  “In your demands, one has to do with CNG cars and buses to ease transportation costs. We are the first government in Nigeria to roll out free buses for students and the people of Rivers State. And up till now, we are still sustaining it. It is a sign of our commitment to our people. 

“We know that the cost of living is very high and that is also one of the reasons why we floated the N4billion loan for traders and small businesses in the State. You are witnesses to it. This facility is to help our traders; mothers, fathers, and also to help the youths in the business line. You can see our concerns for our people.”

The governor assured that their position letters had been received, and would  be forwarded to Mr President but quickly added that some of their complaints had been noted, promising that the ones that could be addressed immediately would be attended to.

The governor said the Rivers State Scholarship Board would be constituted in August noting that it was why payment of bursary to students and scholarship awards have not commenced.

Fubara warned that scholarship award would only be available for highly technical and specialised courses like nuclear sciences, engineering and medical studies, pledging that students’ bursary would be payable only at the beginning of academic sessions.

The governor thanked Rivers people for their sustained support to his administration, which he noted, has remained a major backbone.

Fubara pointed to deliberate actions of his administration to ensure quality infrastructure delivery in the health and education sectors, stressing that such actions would eventually provide affordable services to all residents in the state.

Speaking on the decision taken after the security council meeting with service commanders at Government House in Port Harcourt, Fubara said they were aware of the planned 10-day protest beginning from August 1.

He agreed with canvassed reasons by the organisers that they were  hungry as well as other issues of governance but added that the timing of the planned protest was wrong, and therefore, advised them to shelve it in order not to play into the hands of the enemies of the state.

Fubara explained that the key stakeholders had committed that nobody would  be involved in acts that could bring destruction to the state, emphasising that security agencies had also assured that they will be guided by the rule of engagement.

In his presentation, the leader of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Women Groups, Artisans and Traders, Comrade Success Jack, said they  not participating in the planned protest because of the delicate and tensed political atmosphere.

They said they did not want to give opportunity to detractors to tilt the political balance that would embolden anarchists to exercise premeditated crisis.

Comrade Jack, however, demanded that the Federal Government should immediately reduce the pump price of petroleum products to what it was in April, 2023, among others.

Read Also: Shun proposed protest, Fubara urges Rivers

Also speaking, Zone B Coordinator of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Levy Okuru, demanded actual payment of bursary to students, engagement of past student leaders in the ongoing recruitment of staff at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and construction of more hostels for students on campuses, among others. 

Leaders of youth groups also expressed their resolve not to participate in the planned protest in the State, saying that the peace, stability and prosperity of the State and its people were paramount to them.

They further advised the good people of the State to support the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led government and security agencies to secure the State and ensure the safety of everybody, irrespective of social and political leanings. 

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has charged residents of the State to shun the planned nationwide protest, saying it is not the best option for current economic situation in the country.

Fubara spoke while addressing youths under the aegis of SIMplified Ambassadors of Rivers State who came on a solidarity rally at the Government House gate, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The Governor who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, noted that it would not be wise to destroy existing state assets through protest.

He said the government was making efforts to build more for the benefit of the people, adding that the admonition was not to take away their rights but a call for restraint in order to support government policies in providing solutions to the economic situation.

He tasked them to truly be ambassadors of peace by also assisting to persuade others to jettison the idea of protest to protect the state.

He said: “Tell them to calm down, when other people plan to destroy their own house, don’t join them. We shall not destroy our own land. Every human being here is important to us . We will not be part of any development that will cause human blood.”

Read Also: Abbas to protest organisers: Shelve your action in national interest

The Governor emphasised that before the planned protest he had already commenced implementation of policies to cushion the effects of the harsh economy in the areas of agriculture to promote food sufficiency, release of N4bn seeding fund for social infrastructure, and the release of palliative buses to reduce cost of transportation.

He enjoined the group to continue to maintain peace even in the face of challenges as that is the only panacea to development in the State describing Rivers State as a peaceful and hospitable State.

He said: “Rivers State is a hospitable land, so you must maintain that level of hospitality in the area you occupy. Rivers people are industrious, so, at your space which you have affirmed you must be, don’t reduce yourselves to just move on the streets to companies to demand for stipends, but go there with skills so that they can value you”

“What the government of Rivers State wants is for every Rivers person to become a perfect ambassador of the dreams of the founding fathers of the State which is that we should have a land that will excel in every facet.”

He commended the group for standing for equity, justice and fairness which define the principles that drives his administration, noting that the interest of Rivers people are most paramount to his government.

Director General of the SIMplified Ambassadors of Rivers State, Mr. Derefaka Ajubo said they were on a solidarity visit to declare their support for the Governor as they believed in equity, justice and fairness, stressing that it had been the prayers of Rivers South-East Senatorial district to produce the governor and Governor Siminalayi Fubara became the answer.

He noted that no matter the situation they would continue to support the Governor as one who understood the plight of Rivers people not as a politician but as a technocrat, assuring that they would not be part of any planned protest.

“After this solidarity walk, we will in partnership with Rivers Women Unite for SIM, hold a one day worship to God for God’s protection and victory for the governor during the period of tribulations,” he said.

The Southern Youth Congress (SYC) has commended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for fulfilling the N100 million reward for the killing of the notorious cult leader Gift Okpara, also known as 2Baba.

Okpara and his gang members were responsible for the murder of Divisional Police Officer, Superintendent Bako Angbashin, in the Oduemude area of the state.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its co-chairmen, Comrade Jack Okpobiri Ofili, Dr. Oluwasanmi Ayoola, and Chief Mbanefo Okoye, the forum commended Governor Fubara’s integrity in fulfilling the pledge and his consistent support for security operatives in the state.

SYC stated that Governor Fubara has restored public confidence in the police as well as building the capacity of the force to fight crime.

The group urged other public officials to follow Governor Fubara’s example by honouring their pledges to security agencies, as this will serve as motivation for them to carry out their duties effectively.

“The Southern Youth Congress (SYC) commends Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for fulfilling the N100m bounty on the head of a notorious cult leader, Gift Okpara, aka 2Baba, who alongside his gang members killed a Divisional Police Officer, Superintendent Bako Angbashin, in the Oduemude area of the state,” the statement said. 

“The confirmation of the pledge fulfillment by the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a parade held in honor of the slain DPO at the state police headquarters on Saturday, was promising.

“The governor has proven his integrity and shown strong support for security agencies in the state, which is commendable. He has restored public confidence in the police as well as building the capacity of the force to fight crime.

Read Also: Fubara redeems N100m bounty on slain DPO Bako

“We urge other public officeholders in Nigeria, especially those in the South, to follow Governor Fubara’s example by fulfilling their pledges to security agencies to motivate them to better discharge their duties.

“The Southern Youth Assembly also commends the Rivers State Police Command for neutralizing the notorious cult leader, 2Baba. We encourage them to continue their efforts until Rivers State is completely free of crime.

“We sympathise with the family of the slain DPO and pray that God grants them the strength to bear the irreparable loss. We hope that they may find comfort in the fact that Superintendent Bako Angbashin lived a selfless life and died as a hero.

“SYC urges youths to reject violence and support the government and security agencies in eradicating crime from our society.”

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has promised to deliver the 5km Okania-Ogbogoro road in December.

He said the road would ease movement for residents and divert traffic from the ongoing construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road in the State.

The Okania-Ogbogoro Road is in Akpor area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State capital.

The Governor also described as fulfilling the expression of joy and excitement by residents of Okania and Ogbogoro communities, who had see their major access road abandoned for about 14 years reconstructed with about 90 percent drainage work completed.

Fubara spoke on Monday shortly after trekking the 5km road, inspecting culverts, drainages, texture of the surface layers of the road and receiving explanations from the Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi.

The Governor said: “You are aware that two months ago, we came here to flag off this project, having considered the importance of this road; knowing fully well what our people are suffering because of the Ring Road we are constructing.

Read Also: Fubara to monarchs: fight oil theft, end economic sabotage in your domains

“So, we are here this evening to assess the level of work going on here. I think from what we are seeing, it is better than what we met the first time we came here.

“The contractor has assured us that they have done 90 percent of the drainage work; and following the raining season, they are expecting to achieve a greater part of the project hopefully within August and September.”

 Fubara in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Nelson Chukwudi,  said: “All things been equal, he has also assured us that by December, if we miss November, we will be coming here to commission this road.

“You can see how excited our people are. It is a road that has been abandoned for over 14 years. So, it means this project means a lot to the people living here. 

“And for us as a government, it also means a lot that we are doing something that is touching the lives of our people,” he added.