Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared the purported list of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee members for the state, circulating in the national and social media, as fake.
The governor said the list is a handiwork of cheap publicity seekers and agents of crisis, who should know that their imagination will not stand.
He said the national leadership of the party had met recently and agreed that in states where the tenure of PDP Executives had expired should continue to maintain the officers as caretakers for the next three months.
Fubara clarified that the decision, which awaits ratification by the National Executive Council (NEC), did not approve that new names should be added to the already existing number of officers, or any subsisting officer(s) removed.
He spoke yesterday at the flag-off of the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre project at Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.
The governor said: “I know that a lot of you saw something flying in the social media, dailies. Let me brief you, we hard a meeting, and we agreed that, not just in Rivers State, but in all the States affected, that the Executive Councils (of PDP) should be extended for three months.
“This extension is not meant to bring in new names. The extension also did not say that you are working without the authority of the Governor. So, for those lists that you saw and those ones altered, I can assure you that they are not going to stand.
“For record purposes, so that you will understand, we also agreed that there is going to be a NEC meeting on the 18th of this month (April) that should ratify that decision.
“So, what you are seeing is the handiwork of desperate people who like media publicity. In fact, empty drums make loudest noise. So, don’t bother about anything. Nothing is happening.”
He alluded to the fear that has come upon his detractors given the warning he issued a day ago that he will surprise those who dare him, and vowed to continue to make them feel restless.
Fubara said Rivers State remains a very important stake to protect, which is why his Administration chose the path of peace in order to engender progress.
He said: “You can see how restless they have been since I made just one statement, yesterday. We will continue to make them restless.
“They won’t know where we are coming from. We will also continue to hit them hard the way we hit them, yesterday. So, those of you who were worried when you saw those lists that were flying, go and rest, nothing is happening.”
Commenting on the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre project, Fubara said he was delighted to make another significant impact on strategic governance in the State.
The governor emphasised that the project was evidence of his genuine interest in the wellbeing of Rivers people, and the desire to promote growth, not because of any personal or business interest.
He explained that when he assumed office, the initial partners of the project were invited, and after extensive discussion and the reasons they gave for the delay, it was decided to relieve them of the job.
Fubara clarified that the former project partners had been paid off before GOSH Project Limited was engaged adding that they have no reason not to deliver on schedule.
The governor said, “We are not just coming here to flag-off the project, we want to see it completed in reality. That is what we stand for. Not coming to flag-off, and tomorrow, it doesn’t work, and it is stalled.
He advised the project partners to ensure that every commitment is made for the successful delivery of the project on schedule.
In his address, the Acting Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dr. Tonte Davies, said the groundbreaking that signaled commencement of construction of the project marks a significant milestone in furthering the interest and welfare of Rivers people.
The project, when completed, Dr Davies enthused, will end the era of indiscriminate conduct of auto mechanics’ activities in parts of the State because there will be a one-stop-shop to accommodate all operations.
