Gov Fubara urges South-South Govs to collaborate for regional devt
…Calls for collective action as Bayelsa counterpart visits Rivers for Christmas
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged Governors of South-South states to foster stronger collaboration and embrace measures that will drive the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
Governor Fubara issued this challenge on Saturday during a Christmas visit by Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was accompanied by a delegation of Bayelsa State leaders to Government House in Port Harcourt.
He highlighted the dangers of a lack of collaboration and mutual relationships between the states, noting that such a divide hampers meaningful and enduring development in the region.
He pointed out that many Bayelsans live in Rivers State, even if they work in Bayelsa, underscoring the need for a broader approach to issues such as security, connectivity, and the facilitation of easier business and commuting.
Governor Fubara stressed the importance of strengthening the BRACED Commission, which, he said, has the region’s interests at heart. He emphasized the necessity of a collective approach to solving problems, citing how solving crime in Rivers State alone would not be sufficient, as criminals may simply move to neighbouring states. He urged Governor Diri to take this mission forward, calling for concrete actions that would benefit the people of the region.
He thanked Governor Diri for the Christmas visit, describing it as a sign of the mutual strength and cooperation between the two state governments in providing good leadership.
He expressed confidence that both states would continue to work together to protect national assets, particularly in the oil sector, which remains crucial to the national economy.
“We have a responsibility, as leaders of these two states, to protect the oil resources. The oil investments, both offshore and onshore, including those within the pipelines, must be protected,” Governor Fubara said.
He also pointed out the substantial investment in internal security to maintain peace in a volatile region, stressing that without peace, development would not be possible.
Reflecting on past challenges, Governor Fubara expressed relief that the region, particularly Rivers and Bayelsa, has found peace, and he attributed this to the guidance of God.
“There is nothing God cannot do when you believe in Him,” he added, dedicating the prevailing peace to divine intervention.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, reciprocated the goodwill, recalling that Governor Fubara had made a surprise Christmas visit to him in 2023. He highlighted the strong bonds between the people of the two states, including shared ethnicity, culture, and social and economic ties, and praised Governor Fubara for his friendship.
Governor Diri also commended the peaceful relations between the two states since Fubara took office, noting that previous disagreements, such as those over the Soku oil wells, had been resolved amicably. He revealed that both governors had agreed to revert to the status quo regarding the oil wells, with their Attorneys General taking appropriate legal steps to resolve the issue.
Governor Diri also acknowledged that despite tensions from the previous administration in Rivers, which had led to property damage in Bayelsa, the matter was handled through legal means, and a peaceful resolution was sought.
He expressed satisfaction with the collaborative approach under Governor Fubara’s leadership, especially regarding boundary issues and other concerns between the states.
