Fubara: I Won’t Submit My Mandate to Sabotage, Intimidation, Blackmail

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, yesterday, responded to alleged orchestrated threat to his mandate, and vowed never to submit to sabotage, intimidation and blackmail from any quarter.

Fubara, who reaffirmed his commitment to serve with “humility, sincerity of purpose and accountability,” assured that he would not abandon the mandate given to him to serve, protect and advance the fortunes of the State.
The governor made the assertion while declaring open the 115 and 116 combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.

He said, “Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the governor.

“I assure you that I will not fail in this responsibility nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage. I reaffirm my earlier statement and recommit myself to the path of peace as there is nothing to gain in a State of needless crisis.”
On development, the governor said drastic measures would be taken to strengthen education, healthcare and social services across the state, so that no part, including the rural areas, would be left behind.

Advancing his efforts in human capital development, the governor said his 2024 budget would prioritise and provide sufficient funding to create universal access to affordable and quality education and healthcare services in the state.

“We will also take deliberate steps to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit among our teeming unemployed youths through viable initiatives on skills development, entrepreneurship training and targeted investments in commercial agriculture.”

Fubara urged the traditional rulers to be upright and royal fathers of integrity, who would not compromise their neutrality.
He further enjoined them to be courageous to speak truth to power so that they would not lose their moral authority and legitimacy before their people.
“We must all be worried about the plight of our youths, especially those in rural communities, most of whom are poor, neglected and almost forgotten in the government’s development plans, policies, and actions.

“As we all know, no human society can progress without peace and security. I will, therefore, urge you to continue to work tirelessly for the preservation of peace and security to attract sustainable development to your communities.”

The governor, also harped on the need for everybody to have faith in the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration at the federal level, asserting that the president has shown determination at pulling the nation out of the prevailing economic straits and usher in a new era of sustainable and reassuring economic progress.

In his address, the Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Sergeant Chidi Awuse, declared the firm support of the council to the administration, saying he was elected as the best and trusted to lead the state.
Awuse urged troublemakers, who were fanning the ember of discord to cease from the acts and allow the governor to concentrate on the work he was elected to do.