Tag: Fubara

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that all the efforts of his detractors to frustrate his first anniversary in office failed woefully.

The governor expressed gratitude to God for the grace he gave to him to pull through the troubling political crisis and steadied governance.

Fubara thanked all Rivers people for their trust, support, and various levels of contributions that strengthened the capacity of the government to commit to the successes that had been recorded.

The governor spoke at the Special Thanksgiving Service to mark his First Year in Office Anniversary, which was held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Fubara in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said he was baffled to have survived everything and to be celebrating his first anniversary.

“I still don’t believe that this administration is truly marking one year in office”, he declared

Fubara recalled that some few months ago, nobody had believed that it was going to be possible for them to come to church in gratitude to return thanks to God over how they were able to navigate through the troubled waters.

He said: “You won’t understand. I can tell you in good authority that even before we started this programme, there was every plan to frustrate us. But to the glory of God, we are all gathered here to say ‘God, thank you, that you have carried us and led us to this point’.

“Now, if we have God by our side, do we have any problem? I want to thank everyone of you that are here to support us.

“I want to thank you especially, on behalf of my family and the government, you have given us honour, and you have made us proud. Without you, there wouldn’t have been any record of success. So, I want to thank you.

“I want to also assure you that this trust you have reposed in us, we are not going to betray it. We might not have gotten it completely right but we believe that as we move on, it will get better and better. And it is only with your support.

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“What the devil thought it was evil they were going to inflict on us, God turned it to blessing and good.

“I will not give this day to anybody, I will not talk about anybody, I will only say God Almighty thank you.”

Delivering the sermon at the service, Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Right Reverend Wisdom Ihunwo, preached on the importance of people having grateful hearts when coming to God for thanksgiving.

He said: “It is not by what we are doing. We have peace, and we didn’t work for it. What we are also seeing today in our country is that God is showing us mercy. But for the grace of God, this country would have been burning like fire.

“Look at what is going on, in the economic situation in this country: the level of suffering and hunger. Sometimes, I wonder what Nigeria has done for God and He loves this nation so much.

 “But we need to also work to make sure we are doing the right things so that God will not be angry with us. And always attribute your successes to God because, on your own, there is nothing you can do.”

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has praised Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara‘s leadership style, describing him as an asset to Nigeria’s democracy.

The group emphasised that Governor Fubara’s approach to politics was still relatively rare in Nigeria’s dynamic political landscape.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr Reginald Agamah, the group noted that despite distractions from disgruntled politicians in the state, Governor Fubara’s achievements in just one year in office are far-reaching and worthy of commendations.

Dr Agamah lauded the Governor for resisting the urge to use the distractions he faced from state actors as an excuse not to perform.

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He urged detractors to give Rivers State time to heal and be better positioned for development.

The statement said: “The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe, ANPE, commends Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for his unique approach to governance. We commend the Governor for prioritising the interest of Rivers people over politics.

“Governor Fubara’s brand of politics is still relatively rare in Nigeria’s dynamic political landscape, resembling the egalitarianism of Abraham Lincoln. His personal political philosophy is worthy of emulation.

“Without sounding immodest and backed by empirical evidence, Governor Sim Fubara stands tall today amongst his colleagues as a peerless brand of humility, integrity, prudence, love for the people, honesty of purpose, candour, and a patriotic fervour still uncommon in Nigerian effervescent political horizon…

Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that God has removed all obstacles against his administration.

Fubara said his administration would  continue to prioritise the interest of Rivers people in the governance of the state under the mantra ‘Rivers First’.

He called on all well-meaning Rivers people to continue to support and contribute their quota towards making the administration achieve its vision of advancing the fortunes of the state in his government.

Fubara spoke during the Praise Night organised by the state government to mark his first anniversary.The event was held  at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt on Friday night.

The praise night was attended by the Governor and his wife, Lady Valarie Siminalayi Fubara; the Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; former Governor Peter Odili; and his wife, Justice Mary Odili (rtd); Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi and factional Speaker of the State  House of Assembly,  Victor Oko-Jumbo.

Others include Senator John Mbata; state government officials, stakeholders, traditional rulers, gospel singers and hundreds of residents, featured gospel artistes such as Prince Emmanuel, Preye Odede, Joe Praise, Sensational Bamidele, Buchi, Afy Douglas (Atonye Douglas), among others

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The governor, who spoke through his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu said: “My boss and brother, you are victorious already. The good Lord has rolled away the stone. We shall continue to have this shared vision of putting Rivers State first.

“But, we can’t do it alone. We need all of you, big and small to be there for us, to chip-in the little or the much you can, and at the end of this our first tenure, you will see where God will take Rivers State to.

“I want to thank everybody. The artists, they are moved. It wasn’t just them singing and dancing, I think there were spiritual ministrations that they have made, and they have also made prophetic declarations that we all say amen to.”

He said  God had made permanent the situation in his administration by removing all obstacles, believing that He would continue to fight the battles for the government to be victorious.

His words: “The word of God says, ‘who is that mountain before Zerubbabel, it will be made a plain.

“So, my boss, my amiable Governor and His lovely and wonderful wife, I call my daughter, there is no mountain before us that God will not make a plain.

“And when God takes over the battle, you don’t need to fight. Every day I remind myself of the war of Gideon in the Bible. Gideon said he doesn’t know how to fight and God said no, the fight is not yours, its His and Gideon went and he was victorious.”

He asked Rivers people to continue to stand strong in support of the administration and to contribute meaningfully towards the sustainable development of the state.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has said that his administration will continue to prioritise the interest of people of the state under the mantra: ‘Rivers First’.

Fubara made the remark during the praise night organised on Friday by the state government to mark his first year in office, in Port Harcourt,

The governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, solicited the support of the people, in moving the state forward.

He urged the people  to contribute their quota to assist the administration to achieve its vision of advancing the fortunes of the state.

The governor prayed that God would continue to move mountains on the path of the state, and make it better.

Fubara noted with happiness the spiritual ministrations and prophetic declarations by  artistes during the event.

He said that they were manifestations of the victory which God had sealed in the state.

“We shall continue to have this shared vision of putting Rivers state first, but we can’t do it alone.

‘’We need all of you, big and small, to be there for us, to chip in the little or the much you can, and at the end of this our first tenure, you will see where God will take Rivers state to.”

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Fubara thanked everyone who graced the occasion, especially the artistes, for the performances which included singing and dancing.

‘’I think there were spiritual ministrations that they have made, and they have also made prophetic declarations that we all said amen to,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured praise and worship songs in appreciation to God for the first year of Fubara.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the governor’s wife, Lady Valarie  Fubara; former Gov. Peter Odili and his wife, retired Justice Mary Odili; and Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi.

(NAN)

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has warned residents of the state against demarketing Rivers saying it only chases away investors.

The governor spoke on Friday, May 31, when received a delegation of leaders and members of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), who were on a solidarity walk to the Government House gate in Port Harcourt.

 Fubara, who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, promised that the social contract between his administration and Rivers people would remain an unbroken bond to drive governance.

He asked members of RIWAMA to redouble their efforts and make sure that refuse wastes were cleared off the streets promptly to have a cleaner city always.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) appreciated their daily toiling to make sure that the streets of Port Harcourt and the environs were free of refuse.

He said: “If we join to demarket our State, we will have ourselves to blame. When we demarket Port Harcourt, demarket Rivers State and all the good people that want to bring in their money to invest here begin to run away, remember that it is our own future that we are destroying.

“Do you want the future of your children to be destroyed? The time to rebuild is now. And we have someone who knows how to lay the foundation. The Governor is laying very good foundations. This Governor, if you watch carefully, what he is doing, is busy laying the foundation that will benefit all of us.

“He is a statesman, not the typical politician thinking of the next election. He is not fighting those perceived not to have voted for him or not supporting him.

“He is thinking of the next generation. It is the next generation that will, on their own, say this man that has secured our future when we never knew it, we will stand up for him.

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“Look at the Rivers Transport Company that was shut down, it has been resuscitated. Will the children of the workers consider that as a joke? Won’t such people be part of the electoral force standing with the Governor?

“The governor is creating the climate where everybody can find what his or her ability to do to earn a living. Whatever you or your children can do, you’ll have the opportunity. Even the capacity of public schools is strengthened to have better standards to offer quality education to our children at an affordable rate.”

Fubara, who described them as ambassadors of his government said he was proud to see the level of cleanliness of Port Harcourt City and its environs.

He said: “I say so because when people enter a city, like driving into Port Harcourt, they may not have the opportunity of entering our individual houses. If they have a place they’re going to, they can go there.

“But they will be able to assess the level of governance by the cleanliness and orderliness observed on the streets. And anyone driving into Port Harcourt now will see that, to a large extent, there is sanity.

“And it would not be good that people will visit our streets and find them littered with dirt and unkempt. I know that some people are trying to sabotage what you are doing. But we know that you can put some measures in place to report such sabotage to the authorities.

“That is why the Governor has put many things in place to ensure that we will not just be a Garden City on the paper but practically seen as such, so that anyone that visits Port Harcourt or Greater Port Harcourt city where your jobs span to, that person should be able to know that, indeed, we are a natural Garden City.”

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the RIWAMA Service Providers Association, Comrade Andrew Ijegba, said they embarked on the Solidarity Walk to join in the ongoing celebration of the one-year in office anniversary of the governor.

 Ijegba said they constituted the team of persons, who operated all refuse evacuation trucks, street sweepers, and other levels of service offered towards ensuring that the city was free of refuse.

He said: “When the Governor came into office, we sent a request to him that had been on the table for years but to our greatest surprise, in less than two months, the governor approved it.

“That gave us the spirit of togetherness. He showed by that response, that he is a Governor that has listening ears. So, on that note, today, we decided that we are going to join to celebrate him, and also let him know that we are with him 100 percent.”

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara said yesterday that his administration inherited 34 uncompleted projects valued at over N225.279 billion. 

Fubuara also said that his administration has awarded nine new road projects valued at N534.332bn.

He described the worst part of the political crisis in the state which he described as a ‘’vicious’’ against his government was over.

The governor spoke while presenting an Account of Stewardship and Scorecard to mark the first anniversary of his administration in Port Harcourt.

Fubara said: “We started this journey with a bang. We were focused. We were determined to make the change we promised with a sense of urgency.

“But then, somehow, we suddenly found ourselves in the cesspit of crisis barely three months into our tenure. It was not just an ordinary political crisis. It was a vicious existential crisis.

“But thank goodness, the worst is over. We have successfully defended our rights and opportunity to govern our State and advance its progress in freedom, and we will continue to prevail.”

The governor noted that many things had changed in the state’s political landscape. He said he remained committed to his covenant to put Rivers State first, defend its interests, and ensure that the people got the dividends of democracy.

He said: “For us, any government worth its name must be accountable, responsive, and responsible for the security and well-being of the people.

“Having managed the affairs of our state for one year, including dispensing public resources, it is only a good idea that we render account with a public presentation of our performance record.

“I am, therefore, pleased to stand before you to present our Scorecard for the first year we have been in office as the Executive arm of the Government of Rivers State.”

 Fubara recalled his promise to deliver on the core priorities of economic growth, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture contained in his blueprint for the development of the state. The governor said he was proud to report that, despite the unprecedented challenges, his first year in office had witnessed significant achievements visible to everybody.

Fubara particularly said that he inherited a state, whose economy was on a declining trajectory despite its growth potential but within one year of his administration, the negatives had changed for the better.

The governor said the  Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)/Investment Advisory Committee he chairs has increased the inflow of economic investments to the state.

He added:  “One year down the line, and we believe we are succeeding. Our internally generated revenue witnessed an astronomical increase from N12 billion to between N17 billion in off-peak periods and N28 billion during the peak months.”

“Our liberalised business-friendly economic policies and programmes are boosting confidence and attracting local and international investors and investments into the State, judging by the expression of interest offers we receive every month.

“We have kept our taxes low, frozen the imposing of taxes on small businesses across the State, and increased the ease of doing business in the State by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks. No request for the signing of a certificate of occupancy remains in my office beyond two days, except if I am otherwise engaged beyond two days or out of town.

“We have established a N4 billion matching fund with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to support existing and new micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) to grow their businesses to drive economic growth and create jobs and wealth for citizens. Over 3,000 citizens and residents have applied to access this loan to fund their businesses at a single-digit interest rate, and a repayment period of up to five years.”

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The governor expressed his belief in using infrastructure as key to sustainable development, saying he did not abandon the 34 uncompleted projects that he inherited, valued at over N225.279 billion

The governor also said that 12 of those projects had been completed and put to use while construction work was ongoing on the others.

Fubara said that except for the Port Harcourt Ring Road project that was funded with the loan, other ambitious projects of his administration such as the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, Okania-Ogbogoro Road, and the Trans-Kalabari Road were funded from accumulated IGR and federal allocations savings.

He said: “I wish to emphasize that with a combined cost of N528.6billion, the 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, the dualisation of Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road and the Trans-Kalabari Road projects are the three most ambitious road projects ever carried out by any Governor in Rivers State.

“The 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Ring Road, with six flyovers, one river crossing, walkways, drains, streetlights, and spanning six local government areas, was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at a total cost of N195.3billion for a 36-month completion period.

“The speed with which the project is advancing shows that this administration is in a hurry to deliver this project even before the due date with the 77 percent down payment of N150 billion to the contractor. Presently, work on the project is progressing satisfactorily from six different locations.

“The 33.5-kilometre Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road was awarded on the 26th of March, 2024 at a total cost of N80.886billion to Craneburge Construction Company with a down payment of 50 percent of the contract sum and 24-month completion timeline. The contractor has since commenced work on this project.”

Chairman of the occasion John Mbata said the essence of democracy was for leaders to serve the people, be responsible to them and work to improve their well-being.

“Popular sovereignty principle connotes the fact that power belongs to the people. It is the people that leaders are called upon to serve. The people play the role of choosing their leaders through regular and periodic elections, and also the people have the mandate to renew or refuse to renew the mandate periodically,’’ Mbata said.

In his welcome address, Secretary to the State Government (SSG)  Tammy Danagogo, described Governor Fubara as an eagle leader.

“Over the past year, what has been going on in Rivers State is what I will call a quiet and noiseless revolution. His Excellency has been working very assiduously, performing very excellently, and without noise, daring and achieving what is seemingly impossible,’’ Danagogo said.