Not On My Watch, Fubara Declares
● Insists no retreat; no surrender
By PHC Telegraph
The Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has declared that he will not surrender to pressure from anti-democratic forces who are determined to enslave the people, saying “I will not govern our dear State” on bent knees.
Fubara, toughened by months of deadly confrontation with the former governor of Rivers State, vowed that under his watch, he will not allow any person or group to choke the people and strangulate the growth of the State.
“I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees”, the number one citizen emphasized.
“If that was the purpose”, Fubara said of the intention of those who brought him to power, “I would not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right.”
At the country home of Chief Celestine Omehia, Fubara said in respect of the ongoing war, “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.”
Fubara has repeatedly urged true lovers of Rivers State to refrain from actions that could set the State back.
According to him, “Anybody who claims to love this State should not be party to anything, directly or indirectly, that will bring us backwards.”
It hasn’t been easy fighting his way out of the grip of those who are seriously poised to maintain complete control of power and the resources of the State.
From the moment that they surrounded him with so many appointees that he did not demand; security agents that he did not ask for who kept watch over him round the clock; Sim as he is popularly called knew he had to get to the people, to connect directly with them if had to fight back.
The move turned out right.
The people who were monitoring events answered as soon as moves were made by cohorts of the Minister to impeach the Governor.
From all indications, the Rivers people have remained a bulwark of support one year after the war started, with peace loving men and women urging the Governor not to relent in his effort to liberate the State from the hands of their oppressors.
Despite the ongoing battle, Fubara has put smiles on the faces of the ordinary people. Development projects are going on and a leader who has compassion in his heart has taken over the reins of government.
They are asking for projects which would enhance the transformation of their hamlets and their communities.
“You can see how excited our people are”, Fubara said when he went to inspect the extent of work being done on the Okania -Ogbugoro Road in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
“It is a road that has been abandoned for over 14 years. So, it means this project means a lot to the people living here.
“And for us as a government, it also means a lot, that we are doing something that is touching the lives of our people.”
The five-kilometre road when completed will help create better access at a time that work on the ring road which is expected to last three years is going on.
While work goes on, on all fronts and the fight for the soul of Rivers State continues with the support of Rivers people, Fubara insists, “I will stand to govern our dear State” and “not govern our dear State on my knees.”