Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that the political crisis has been sufficiently weathered, allowing his administration to provide focused leadership and governance to the people of the State.
The governor made this assertion while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, led by its Chairman, Mike Etaba, at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Saturday night.
Pressure as an Enabler for Focused Leadership
Governor Fubara explained how the pressure from the unwarranted political crisis served as an enabler to strengthen his commitment to service, which is now positively impacting the lives of the people. He referenced a movie he saw years ago, “Devil’s Advocate,” where one of the starring characters, Al Pacino, said that pressure makes some people retreat or fail, while others become focused to succeed. The governor emphasized that his administration has chosen to be focused under this pressure.
Empowering MSMEs and Improving Socio-economic Dynamics
Governor Fubara pointed to the empowerment of about 3,066 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) through the N4 billion single-digit loan scheme in conjunction with the Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited as one way his administration is improving the socio-economic dynamics of the State. He stated that this empowerment is aimed at touching the lives of the people and strengthening the economy of the masses and the State.
Peaceful Leadership and Dismissing Negative Social Media Reports
Governor Fubara reiterated that Rivers State is peaceful and that it takes a peaceful leader to bring about such an aura of peace to the State and its people. He advised his guests to dismiss the negative social media reports that 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.
Urging Thorough Investigation and Fair Resolutions
The governor further told the committee members to note that it is normal for people to seek redress when they feel that their rights have 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. Governor Fubara also urged the committee to be aware that some petitions may not be genuine and could be a way to extort money from companies doing business in the State.
