The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has promised not to abandon the mandate given to him by the people of the state irrespective of the level of blackmail and intimidation directed at him.
Fubara said that his administration was being sabotaged.
The governor spoke while declaring open the 115th and 116th combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
While reaffirming his commitment to serve the state with humility, sincerity of purpose and accountability, the Rivers governor also asked Nigerians to have faith in the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu at the federal level.
“Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the Governor.
“I assure you that I will not fail in this responsibility nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage.
“I reaffirm my earlier statement and recommit myself to the path of peace as there is nothing to gain in a state of needless crisis,” Fubara said.
He stated that measures would be taken to strengthen education, healthcare and social services across the state, noting that the state’s 2024 appropriation bill would prioritise and provide sufficient funding to create universal access to affordable and quality education and healthcare services in the state.
“We will also take deliberate steps to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit among our teeming unemployed youths through viable initiatives on skills development, entrepreneurship training and targeted investments in commercial agriculture,” he said.
The Rivers governor charged the traditional rulers to be upright, have integrity and strive not to compromise their neutrality while enjoining them to be courageous to speak truth to power so that they do not lose their moral authority and legitimacy before their people.
“We must all be worried about the plight of our youths, especially those in rural communities, most of whom are poor, neglected and almost forgotten in the government’s development plans, policies, and actions.
“As we all know, no human society can progress without peace and security. I will therefore urge you to continue to work tirelessly for the preservation of peace and security to attract sustainable development to your communities,” he said.
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