Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said the pressure mounted by the political crisis has been weathered sufficiently, giving way for his administration to provide focused leadership and governance to the people of the state.
Fubara disclosed this on Saturday night when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, led by its Chairman, Hon. Mike Etaba, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor declared that as long as his administration and the Rivers people he is leading are concerned, there is no more political issue of note.
Making reference to a movie he had seen long time ago, Fubara explained how the pressure from the unwarranted political crisis served as an enabler to strengthen his commitment to service that is now impacting lives positively.
“As far as we are concerned, there are no political issues. I had seen a movie many years ago, entitled, ‘Devil’s Advocate.’ I believe some of you must have seen that movie too.
“One of the starring characters: Al Pacino said, ‘pressure makes some people retreat or fail,’ and to others, it makes them to become focused to succeed. We have chosen to be focused under this pressure.
“That is why we are moving ahead. That is why we are making positive impact in the lives of our people. Governance is about the people. It is not about self. Governance is about touching the core needs of those people we are leading, and by the special grace of God, we are doing it,” Fubara said.
The governor pointed to the empowerment of about 3,066 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) when he flagged off the N4billion single digit loan scheme in conjunction with the Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited last Friday, as one way his administration is improving the socio-economic dynamics of the State.
“Yesterday, by the special grace of God, we observed the credit line of over 3,066 persons empowered. You can imagine what that will do for the economy of the masses and the State.
“That is touching the lives of our people. It is not supporting them for selfish reasons. It is not giving contract because I want somebody to fight somebody in my community. No. This is empowering the economy of the masses and the State.
“Our focus is that, no matter what anybody is doing anywhere, we are not going to lose focus. We want to leave here better than we had met it. And we want to also leave here without fear of anything,” he said.
He added that it is more desirable for a public leader to relish in the accolades from the majority of the people, who by exploring the conducive climate that is provided, could feed themselves and pay school fees of their children.
The governor said: “That is what we want to hear, so that when before our children, our names are mentioned when we are no more, they will say: ‘that man is a good man’.
“We will not oppress anybody. We will not force anybody against their will. We will not intimidate anybody, because intimidation has a time it expires.
“When the time of intimidation expires, even as recorded of Pharaoh in the Bible, who intimidated the children of Israel, but it got to a time that the intimidation no longer worked.
“So, any bad thing that has a beginning, will have an end. That is why I said we don’t have any problem. We have put that crisis behind us. We are looking ahead,” Fubara said.
In his address, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mike Etaba, explained that they came into Port Harcourt on the basis of a petition that before the House and referred to the Committee.
Etaba mentioned the petitioner as “Bridge Gap Initiative”, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in respect to some of the companies operating in the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout of Rivers State.
He said, “These companies are Schlumberger, Halliburton, Coca Cola and International Breweries. We have met with these companies that were able to oblige us their time.
“We went round to look at the issues that made us to come, especially the pollution of the water around Oginigba River. The companies were accused of discharging dangerous effluent into the river, and also polluting the environment. That is the reason we came, and we have finished our assignment.”
Etaba also commended Governor Fubara on how he had handled the political crisis that erupted in the state, praising him for not allowing it degenerate into violent clashes.
He said, “The battle of leadership comes from God Almighty. Nobody gives power. Power comes from God. If God uses any man to give you power, and that man arrogates power to himself, that man will be doing himself a disservice.
“So far, you have carried yourself as a man that has wisdom, dignity, and you are doing well. Your Excellency, don’t be distracted, what you owe dearly is to hold unto God strongly.
“The Lord is your strength, and you will succeed in every decision that you take. Ask Him for wisdom, He will direct you,” he added.
He pledged the committee’s support, and urged all people of goodwill in the State to rally support and remain strong in their tenacious loyalty to the governor to enable him succeed in delivering good governance and quality leadership to the Rivers people.
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