By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the pressure mounted by the political crisis has been weathered through, giving way for his Administration to provide focused leadership and governance to the people of the State.

Governor Fubara made the assertion Saturday when the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, led by its Chairman, Hon. Mike Etaba, paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt .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 had seen a long time ago, Governor 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 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 cited 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 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 emphatically 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 by 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 is normal for people to seek redress when they feel that their right had been trampled upon.

But 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,” he added.

Governor Fubara added, “You mentioned something about the petition against Indorama Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited, we are already aware of it.

“Funny enough, the Indorama’s case was even reported by Indorama itself. It is unfortunate that a particular person who got the privileged information went behind to use that information against the company.

“I just need to let you know that, just in case when you will be treating the case, you could factor this information. Those people can’t come to us because they know we will look at them in the face, and tell them the truth.

“Ordinarily, they ought to have come to us. They need to make the complaint first to the State Ministry of Environment before going ahead.

“So, you can see the kind of society that we find ourselves. But, God has placed you in this position today. It is for a purpose. So, use it to defend the oppressed people possibly in the course of justice. Defend them. Defend what is right. When it is wrong, say it with boldness,” the Governor added.

In his address, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. 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 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 with their time.

“We went round to look at the issues that made us 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.”

Hon. Etaba used the opportunity to commend Governor Fubara on how he had handled the political crisis that erupted in the State, praising him for not allowing it to degenerate into violent physical clashes.

He said, “Because you see, 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 Rivers people.

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo  says his party,  the All Progressives Congress (APC), will not underrate any candidate from other political parties in  the  state’s Nov. 16 governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa stated this on Sunday at a gathering to celebrate his victory at the APC primaries, organised by a group, ‘Friends of Lucky,’ in Akure.

Aiyedatiwa, who said victory belonged  to the people of Ondo state, appreciated the leaders of the party for their support, as well as the organisers of the event.

“Once again, I appreciate all my supporters. You all went a long way for me, initiated things, spreading the message for my support across the 18 local government areas of the state.

“However, it is not over yet. This is just the first phase. There’s still more land to conquer; there’s still a great battle ahead. The primary election was just an in-house contest and now we head to the main battle,” he said.

The Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, Mrs Bukola Tenabe, said the event was to honour the governor on his resounding victory at the APC primary election held on April 20, and also to appreciate his supporters.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Chief Atili Adaba, congratulated the governor on his victory, describing it as well deserved.

He commended the organisers of the event for their efforts in making it a success.

The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, who represented the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, stated that Aiyedatiwa remained  a product of grace.

He added that the house would continue to support the governor for the progress of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu, noted that the governor deserved to be celebrated.

Akinlosotu added that APC was one big family, urging everyone to come together so that the party would be successful at the Nov.16 gubernatorial election.

Dr Abiola Oshodi, who spoke on behalf of APC Canada, also congratulated the governor on his victory, saying: “I am sure that the people of Ondo state will definitely vote for you come Nov. 16”.

A former speaker of the state’s assembly and Chairman of SUBEB, Victor Olabimtan, said the governor was a product of mercy and that APC would  record unprecedented success in the election.

The beautifully decorated Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium assumed the role of a parliamentary session on Saturday as Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo moved a motion for the adoption of Senator Godswill Akpabio by the people of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district as sole candidate of all political parties for the 2027 election.

The event was the public reception organised by the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district for Akpabio as Senate President.

Ekpo’s motion was seconded by Hon Dr. Patrick Umoh, House of Representatives member representing Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara federal constituency and was generally agreed through a voice votes on the affirmative.

The Gas Minister who described Akpabio as a father, role model, a man of grace who has served the state and senatorial district meritoriously and deserved to be allowed to run for the 2027 Senate unopposed citing his magnanimous decision to allow Senator Aloysius Etuk run for two terms in the same senatorial district.

“Will we not allow such a man to go for another term? We know that even if you sleep and election is conducted you will win…but the people have mandated me to ask you that come 2027 no body will buy any form to contest that seat from any of the political parties in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district…the people have told me to inform you that,” Ekpo said amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

Ekpo thanked the large crowd that turned up for the event saying the former governor of the state deserved all the honour and felicitations from the people.

The Minister also extolled the peaceful disposition of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to governance, urging the Senate President to partner with Eno for the development of the state.

Ekpo described Eno as a “shepherd that should be celebrated” imploring Akpabio not to listen to those who come to him to blackmail and backbite the governor.

The minister tasked Akpabio “to teach Governor Eno” how to perform and deliver dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom State just as he did as governor.