*Says he won’t govern the state on his knees
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has called for joint efforts to save the soul of the state from those he described as “detractors” who are bent on destroying its stability, stressing that he won’t govern the state on his knees but will remain standing.
Fubara, who said there is a fierce fight to destroy the soul of the state, noted that only the well-meaning persons who are standing firmly with him can wield the force of unity to save it.
The governor made the call yesterday, at the hometown of Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area, during the burial of his 95-year-old mother, the late Mrs. Cecilia Omehia.
Fubara who attended the event alongside some prominent traditional leaders in the state, said the visit was to demonstrate love and show support to Mr. Omehia who, as a son, had satisfactorily performed the duty of giving his mother a befitting burial.
He said: “I have come here with a few of us; very respected elders of the state, to come and support you and say to you that ‘we sorrow with you.’ The most important thing is to show our concern and love. Any human being that shows enmity to death, that person is not even normal.
“We also rejoice with you for a life lived well to fulfillment by Mama. We wish Mama a safe journey. Let her stay well where she has gone,” the governor said.
The governor reminded the elders of the need for every true lover of the state to synergise and be resolute in the fight to safeguard the soul of Rivers State.
He decried the evil politics of bitterness and the danger it has on the progress of the state, which according to him, should be discouraged as a bad political culture in contemporary times.
He said: “Anybody who claims to love this state should not be party to anything, directly or indirectly, that will bring us backwards. We will continue to support every course that will advance the interest of our dear Rivers State.
“And I am happy to say, and I’ve said it over and again, it doesn’t matter the number of people that are standing with me, I will stand on that side of truth.
“I will not; I repeat, I will not govern our dear state on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose; I will not do that. I will stand to govern our dear state and stand continually on the side of right.
“But politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere. So, I want to thank you that, at this stage, we have a few of you who understand that Rivers State belongs to every one of us. We must, therefore, fight together to sustain the soul of this state,” he added.
