Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, has restated his administration’s commitment to peace, development, and inclusive governance, as full governmental activities resume across the state following a period of political instability.
Speaking during a meeting with the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Fubara said the resumption of key development projects signaled the return of active governance in all sectors.
“My meeting with you this afternoon is to tell you that we are back. It’s not me, all of us. Government has started again,” the Governor told the monarchs.
He assured them that construction has resumed at major project sites across the state, including the Port Harcourt Ring Road, general hospitals, and critical road infrastructure.
Contractors, he noted, have been remobilised to continue work interrupted during the state’s emergency phase.
According to the governor, the recommencement of these projects underscores his administration’s determination to prioritise the welfare of the people and ensure continuity in public service delivery.
“If you are aware, most of the project sites have all reopened. The Ring Road has restarted. The hospitals are mobilised back to sites.
”The roads as at today, we’ve had meetings with all the contractors. They’ve all moved back to sites,” he said.
He also pledged to revisit other abandoned or stalled projects, affirming that the ultimate focus of governance remained the wellbeing of Rivers people.
“We must make sure that the interests of our people are supreme in whatever we’re doing. If you observe, every sector of the system has been activated,” Fubara added.
Acknowledging the traditional rulers as frontline custodians of peace, culture, and grassroots leadership, the governor called for their continued cooperation in maintaining peace and supporting the government’s development agenda.
“You cannot control from Port Harcourt, living in Government House, to decide what happens in the most interior place in Kula,” Fubara said.
“You might have a local government chairman; you might have a councillor, but who is the closest, who controls the sub-leaders of the families, communities that make up the big kingdoms? It is you all here that control them.”
He urged them to remain engaged in promoting harmony, adding that their influence was vital to successful policy implementation at the community level.
“You know the problem, you understand the needs of the people. So, we are appealing that we need more peace.
”You want us to succeed, ensure that you maintain peace in your communities. Ensure that you support the government programmes, ” he added.
Governor Fubara also announced plans to fulfil previous commitments made to the traditional institution, including the distribution of official vehicles and other benefits, in accordance with the recognised hierarchy of the rulers.
These, he said, would be delivered before the end of November.
He also advised the Chairman of the Council to remain apolitical and ensure the Council continued to represent all traditional institutions fairly and without bias, particularly during council meetings.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Chairman of the Council and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, expressed deep appreciation for the governor’s show of leadership and composure during the turbulent months of emergency governance.
He described Fubara’s return as a sign of divine intervention and praised his maturity in navigating a challenging period without compromising the integrity of the state.
“We thank God for your return. Your composure and wisdom during those trying moments gave us hope. We are confident in your leadership,” Eze Wodo stated.
In separate remarks, leading traditional rulers including the Oba, Eze Ogba of Ogbaland, Eze Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III; the Amanyanabo of Bonny, King Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI; the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel; and the Eze of Omuma Kingdom, King Onyekachi Amaonwo, expressed their gratitude for the Governor’s resilience and pledged continued support.
They commended the governor for remaining focused on development and urged him to prioritise youth empowerment, job creation, and community-level development, which they described as the foundations for long-term peace in the state.
“Rivers State is back on its feet,” one of the monarchs remarked. “We urge you to continue the developmental projects you have always championed.”
They assured the governor of the unwavering support of the traditional institution in achieving the goals of his administration.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments from both the state government and traditional rulers to deepen collaboration for the good of the state.
