From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, 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.
He made the assertion when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, led by its Chairman, Mike Etaba, who visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt on Saturday night.
The governor declared that as long as his administration and Rivers people he is leading are concerned, there is no more political issue of note.
Making reference to a movie he saw a long time ago, he 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 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 a 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.”
Governor Fubara pointed to the empowerment of about 3,066 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) when he flagged-off the N4 billion single digit loan scheme in conjunction with the Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited on 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 contracts 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.”
Governor Fubara said it was 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.
“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. So, that is why I said we don’t have any problem. We have put that crisis behind us. We are looking ahead.”
Governor Fubara, who reiterated that Rivers State is peaceful, said it takes a peaceful leader to bring about such an aura of peace to the State and its people.
The governor told his guests to dismiss the negative social media reports that tended to portray the State as a place immersed in uncontrollable violence, and juxtapose it with what they have personally witnessed so that they can be better ambassadors of the State.
“Leadership and respect in leadership is not earned by force. It is your style that brings respect and love. And what we are doing is to respect our people, and in turn, our people are giving us that support for leadership.
“So, I am happy that you are here, and when you go back, tell others your own side of the story: that Rivers State is moving forward. Forget about what you see in social media, there is progress everywhere here. There is light everywhere.”
Governor Fubara further told the committee members to note that it was normal for people to seek redress when they feel that their right had been trampled upon.
He advised that when such complaints come to them, they should be thorough with their investigation, be fair and make their resolutions devoid of bias.
“Some of these people who write these petitions to you, I can say it, some of them are not even genuine. They believe that it is also a way to extort money from most of these companies that are doing business around us.
“So, I will urge you to do your investigation properly and let your finding be as a result of proper and diligent investigation.”
The leader of the delegation and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Mike Etaba, explained that they came into Port Harcourt on the basis of a petition that is before the House and referred to the Committee.
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 Rivers people.