Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged politicians to prioritise public welfare and development over personal interests.
He made this call on Tuesday during the inauguration of Okocha Road in Rumuolumeni, Obio Akpor Local Government Area, the hometown of former Rivers Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Wike also served as chairman of the LGA from 1999 to 2007.
Fubara’s remarks come amidst a lingering conflict between him and Wike over control of the political structure in Rivers State.
Addressing the audience, Fubara said, “My advice is: politics is not all about who is supporting you or who is against you. Politics should also include attending to the needs of the people. At this particular time, if I was an evil person, I would say, ‘I wouldn’t come here,’ considering the nature and the location of this place.
“But, because it is our duty in government to provide services and protect lives and property, we have to come to make sure that our people here are happy. It is not about me. It is about the government. Government should be caring. The purpose of government is to put smiles on the faces of our people.”
Fubara further reflected on the support he received from the Rumuolumeni community during his election campaign, emphasising his gratitude. “We needed to do everything to make sure that we were very comfortable in my own election. The people of this community are majorly visitors, and this community has a very big voting strength.
“Our supporters, at that time, approached them, spoke to them, and they saw reasons to support us in our election. So, what I am doing here today is to say ‘thank you’ for believing in us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for also standing by us. The little we can do is to make your lives better.”
The governor highlighted the significance of the newly inaugurated Okocha Road, which he said had previously been in a deplorable condition. “This road is very significant to us because it removes tears from the faces of the people living here. It was a terrible road. The living condition here was unimaginable, but to the glory of God today, those things are now history.
“You can see joy on the faces of the people here. Moreover, the residents who are majorly non-indigenes are also happy.”
The Okocha Road project is expected to significantly improve access and living conditions in the area, underscoring Fubara’s commitment to delivering impactful governance.
