Rivers, Fubara, In The Eye Of History
By PHC Telegraph
Governor Siminalayi Fubara is now presenting a scorecard of his government’s performance in the first one year, saying “the worst is over.”
The ceremony which is equally part of celebrations marking 57 years of the existence of Rivers State is taking place at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
“I am therefore pleased”, Governor said in his opening remarks”to present a scorecard of achievements that we can all see.”
“We inherited 34 uncompleted projects”, Fubara told his audience while highlighting steps taken to deliver essential dividends of democracy.
The administration, he noted, is spending approximately 528 billion naira on projects conceived by it.
He said that the Port Harcourt Ring Road and the Trans Kalabari Road are among the three most ambitious projects ever to be embarked on by any government in Rivers State.
But he noted that outside the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road which is being funded through a loan, the other projects are being financed through accumulated savings.
The governor said internally generated revenue has risen between N17 billion in off season collection periods and N28 billion in peak periods.
The Port Harcourt Telegraph which is monitoring reports that Rivers people including top politicians, high placed government officials, captains of industry, traditional and religious leaders as well as non governmental agencies are packed in the hall.
Rivers State has been governed since Bayelsa was carved out by a number of governors. They include Dr Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Barrister Nyesom Wike and Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Each of these administrations have added to the transformational story that is coming to light, a story of projects that can be seen and a story of a developing landscape of a great State that is known as the Treasure Base of the Nation.
Rivers people are not the only ones in a celebrative mood. Today is being celebrated by Nigerians at home and in the diaspora as inauguration day.
Dr Peter Odili and his wife Justice Mary Odili. Odili was the first after the creation of Bayelsa State to govern Rivers State. He was in office for eight years and laid the foundation for the new Rivers State.
Governor Celestine Omehia (left), was sworn in after Governor Peter Odili bowed out of office. His reign was shortlived following the intervention of the Supreme Court.
Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi took over from Sir Celestine Omehia as Governor and reigned for eight years after serving as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years.
Barrister Nyesom Wike came on board for eight years as Governor of Rivers State after the Amaechi administration.
President Bola Tinubu has just addressed a joint session of the National Assembly where he called for unity and cooperation. The old national anthem, from what has transpired has replaced the old one (more details loading).
They have been governed since Bayelsa was carved out by a number of governors. They include Dr Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Barrister Nyesom Wike and Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Despite efforts to destabilize the State and throw him out of office, Fubara celebrates his first year in the saddle.While many Nigerians who are finding it increasingly difficult to feed their families think there is nothing to celebrate on the occasion of Democracy Day, some others disagree.
Those who insist there could be a silver lining in the horizon argue that no matter what has transpired, the fact that the nation exists as an indissoluble whole is sufficient for all Nigerians to celebrate.
Despite the economic travails that have become part of the landscape as well as the growing wave of political instability which has been generated to a large extent by acts of insurgency, religious bigotry, widespread corruption, an escalating national population and policy somersaults, constitutional democracy is now a way of life in Nigeria.
Recall that in 1999, the military formally returned to the barracks after handing over power to civilians. On that day on May 29th, Nigerians renewed their faith in democracy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks his first year in office inspite of a tough economic climate that has left Nigerians perplexed.
The journey in the last 25 years has not been as easy. It has been marked by pains and misery among the people, worsened by the decline of the naira, galloping inflation and a new demand represented in these very harsh times by agitations for bigger pay packets by organised labour.
Nonetheless, the period between 1999 and 2024 remains the longest that the people of Nigeria have enjoyed uninterrupted civilian rule.
At the national level, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is marking his first year in office and quite a lot of Nigerians are hoping that it will be a chance to get a better perspective of what is being done to improve life in Nigeria.
In Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara is celebrating his first year, Rivers people are expecting to have a blow by blow account on how their money is being spent.
The Fubara administration which is facing serious challenges from an angry godfather and his supporters is poised to answer those questions.
Already, the scorecard, a compendium of achievements put together by the Fubara administration has been unveiled.
The scorecard shows what the government has achieved within a few months of actual governance. Fubara has himself said that what his administration is showcasing are achievements attained within four months.
Insiders say the scorecard that Fubara has presented to Rivers people today would provide insightful details.
Those details will show how much the State has earned from internally generated revenue as well as the Federation Account.
For the first time in so many years, today’s townhall which will place Fubara’s sense of accountability and transparency on marble would equally provide a sectoral cost of how government is running at the moment.
More importantly, Rivers people would have for the record, a first hand knowledge of how much the execution of each of the completed projects and ongoing projects are costing the State Government.
Fubara who spoke at a State banquet on Monday said the fear of God and a great resolve to deliver on the promises that he made to the people will remain the major springboard upon which his administration would run.
The governor no doubt stands at the threshold of history as he attempts to renew hope among the people who are yearning for development in their communities.
Taking development to the zenith may not come easy. But somehow, within one year, Fubara has raised the bar of governance in Rivers State.
In so doing, he has secured the backing of a great majority of Rivers people and other Nigerians who have continued to insist that his administration should be given a chance to discharge its duties and obligations.
Inside the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, where Rivers people are gathered at this time, expectations are high as Fubara wisely weaves his way through obstacles created by bitter opponents to embark on landmark projects that other administrations carefully avoided.
Those projects include the Port Harcourt Ring Road and the Trans Kalabari Highway. But the fact that the Rivers Government is not borrowing to finance ongoing projects in the State is perhaps, what obviously makes the difference between the administration that he is leading and that which was led by his predecessor, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
While Rivers State beckons to investors and memories of the Wike administration take its place in history of administrations that have come and gone, history opens its doors to an enterprising young man who seeks to get to the skies through careful planning, tact and a political will that many Nigerians are aptly appreciating.
The Port Harcourt Telegraph is on the trail of events that are unfolding in the State and country as Nigerians celebrate inauguration day, and we will bring more reports as they break to our avid readers.