Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has warned that any outgoing local government chairman in the state who hurts any well-meaning Rivers person will not be forgiven as he will be made to pay for his sin.
LEADERSHIP reports that the local government council chairmen were at loggerheads with Governor Fubara over a controversial tenure extension for them by the sacked 27 members of the River State House of Assembly. They are also seen as loyalists of the estranged godfather of the state governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
He pointed to an event that happened on Tuesday, where miscreants attacked some persons who attended the inauguration of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road project, on their way home, and said such show of animosity was utterly needless.
Fubara spoke on Thursday at Egbeda community in Emohua local government area of the state, venue of the official flag-off of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project.
The governor said: “Let me also say this here. When we left Aleto the other day, some people went there and attack our people. There is no need for that.
“Nobody has monopoly of violence. I should even be the one who should come out and shout that I will do this and that. But I don’t need to do that because both sides belong to me. I have taken oath to protect all.
“So, I am advising those people who call themselves local government chairmen, you have a few days in office. Please, conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner.”
Fubara drew their attention to the reality of life after office, which, he said, should help them to become more circumspect.
He said, “Politics will come, politics will go, but we will still live our lives. Let nobody deceive you, if you deliberately hurt anybody, because of expressing your useless support, nobody will forgive you. You will pay for it.
“So, I’m begging everyone, please, conduct yourselves. As a matter of fact, I am the one that is most hit, and abused as a governor who doesn’t know what to do with power. Is it not? Have I said anything?
“So, please, just endure until when you finish, then you go your way. I don’t want trouble. I don’t want anything that will bring any problem in this State. I know what they want to do, but we will not give them the opportunity.
“We have made our promise to our leader, who happens to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that we will take the path of peace and that is the path we are taking.
“We will continue to take that path. Don’t mind what they say. Don’t mind what they do. Peace remains the path to take. While taking the path of that peace, it does not mean that we won’t defend ourselves, or let me describe it this way: we will not just be like a tree seeing someone coming to cut it down, and won’t do anything. No, no no. We need to also protect ourselves in a lawful manner.”
Commenting on the project inauguration, the governor stated that what was being done is to let the world know that his administration means well for Rivers State, and was transparently accounting for every kobo that had been received.
Fubara explained that the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project will be funded with savings from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), adding that 50 per cent of the total cost of N80.8billion had already been paid.
Meanwhile, flagging off the project, Senator John Azuta Mbata, who once represented Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, described the dual carriage road project as the type within the capacity of the Federal Government to award but now being done by Governor Fubara.
Mbata said, “We are, indeed, extremely delighted to have a governor of your calibre. We salute your leadership on this occasion. We salute your humanity on this occasion. We salute your humility on this occasion.
“We salute your propensity and preference for peace and tranquility. We are very delighted to be associated with your humble self and our very presence here today, I believe, makes the point that we are your supporters.
“We don’t have to talk too much about it. Anybody who is a politician understands that my standing here means I am making a grand political statement.”