Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that true governance started in the state in the month of February 2024.
LEADERSHIP reports that Fubara was sworn in on May 29, 2023, as the state governor. Shortly after, a political crisis engulfed the state with the camps of the governor and that of his predecessor and former political godfather, Nyesom Wike, at loggerheads.
Governor Fubara said the months of political rivalry hampered development in the state until a few months ago.
The governor made the declaration on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, while declaring open the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit, with the theme: ‘Rivers Emerge’.
The governor said: “I will like to say that this event, tagged ‘Rivers Emerge’ is not a mistake, because we believe it is important to think about that state first. The development of this state is the most important thing. It is not the political rivalry.
“After politics, we must have a base and that base is our state. That base is when there is development in the state; that is major interest of political struggle. If a state is not viable, I don’t think there will be any need for struggles. At this stage in the life of our dear state, there is the need to assure investors that Rivers State is safe and prepared to welcome investors to our dear state.
“On behalf of the government and people of Rivers State, let me warmly welcome all to the first Rivers State Investment Summit under our government, which is barely a year old. We use the word ‘a year old’ because true governance in this state started in the month of February 2024.”
In his speech, chairman of the occasion and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, lauded Fubara for coming up with such a summit at a time when Nigeria’s economy was at its low ebb.
Duke said: “We are so blessed as a people, we are so endowed by nature as a people. We don’t even know what we have.
“This conference is so apt at a time when the nation’s economy is at its low ebb. Your Excellency, you are setting a pace for others to follow. I believe that after this summit, we will draft policies for future endeavours.”
In his goodwill message, Bayelsa State governor, Senator Donye Diri, said the government and people of Bayelsa will continue to support the Rivers State government in its efforts to revive the economy of the state.
Diri, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Nimi Ayawe, said: “We have come to Rivers State, our senior brother, a state that gave birth to Bayelsa. Considering the challenging times we found ourselves today, this summit is apt.
“If the economy is Rivers State is blooming, it will rub off on Bayelsa State. We are solidly in support of the economic summit.”