… as seven Ahoada East councillors declare their support
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared the purported list of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee members for the state, circulating in the national and social media, as fake.
Governor Fubara said the list is a handiwork of cheap publicity seekers and agents of crisis, who should know that their imagination will not stand.
The Governor explained that the national leadership of the party had met recently and agreed that in states where the tenure of PDP Executives had expired should continue to maintain the officers as caretakers for the next three months.
That decision, Governor Fubara clarified, which awaits ratification by the National Executive Council (NEC) did not approve that new names should be added to the already existing number of officers, or any subsisting officer(s) removed.
“I know that a lot of you saw something flying in the social media, dailies. Let me brief you, we hard a meeting and we agreed that, not just in Rivers State, but in all the states affected, that the Executive Councils (of PDP) should be extended for three months.
“This extension is not meant to bring in new names. The extension also did not say that you are working without the authority of the Governor. So, for those lists that you saw and those ones altered, I can assure you that they are not going to stand.”
Governor Fubara pointed out that: “For record purposes, so that you will understand, we also agreed that there is going to be a NEC meeting on the 18th of this month (April) that should ratify that decision.
“So, what you are seeing is the handiwork of desperate people who like media publicity. In fact, empty drums make loudest noise. So, don’t bother about anything. Nothing is happening.”
Governor Fubara alluded to the fear that has come upon his detractors given the warning he issued a day ago that he will surprise those who dare him, and vowed to continue to make them feel restless.
The Governor said Rivers State remains a very important state to protect, which is why his administration chose the path of peace in order to engender progress, saying, “You can see how restless they have been since I made just one statement, yesterday. We will continue to make them restless.
“They won’t know where we are coming from. We will also continue to hit them hard the way we hit them, yesterday. So, those of you who were worried when you saw those lists that were flying, go and rest, nothing is happening.”
Commenting on the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre project, Governor Fubara said he was delighted to make another significant impact on strategic governance in the state.
He emphasised that the project was evidence of his genuine interest in the wellbeing of Rivers people, and the desire to promote growth, not because of any personal or business interest.
The governor explained that when he assumed office, the initial partners of the project were invited, and after extensive discussion and the reasons they gave for the delay, it was decided to relieve them of the job.
He clarified that the former project partners had been paid off before GOSH Project Limited, was engaged, adding that they have no reason not to deliver on schedule.
The governor said, “We are not just coming here to flag-off the project, we want to see it completed in reality. That is what we stand for. Not coming to flag-off, and tomorrow, it doesn’t work, and it is stalled. We are not part of that. We are not into show business. We are not here to dance. We are here to work, and you will see it.
“We are a government that believes in the well-being and growth of our State genuinely. Not because we own any business around here, not because we have shops that we intend renting here, but we seek the growth of Rivers State.”
He advised the project partners to ensure that every commitment is made for the successful delivery of the project on schedule, nnoting, “We have done everything that we need to do. We have settled the initial partners who defaulted. So, you don’t have any issue going on with this project. It is a mark of our level of commitment to our dear people. The community will need your support.
“At the time that this centre will be properly put in place, it will change the economic status of this environment. People will be employed, businesses will strive, and for those of you that are landlords, you will have more tenants and you will also increase your house rents.”
In his address, the acting administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dr. Tonte Davies, said the groundbreaking that signalled commencement of construction of the project marks a significant milestone in furthering the interest and welfare of Rivers people.
The project, when completed, Dr Davies enthused, will end the era of indiscriminate conduct of auto mechanics’ activities in parts of the state because there will be a one-stop shop to accommodate all operations.
“Today’s event is very unique in the sense that it reaffirms the interest of your government in the welfare of its citizens. For us in Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, the 20,000 housing units development, and now, this International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre is a significant historic moment,” he said.
Providing a description of the project, the CEO of GOSH Projects Limited, Mr Okoh Jeff, said there are 10,000 locked-up shops, 25 banking facilities, 25 brand plaza, 50 industrial warehouses, 10,000 car parks, and mega filling stations.
There are also ultramodern shopping complex, ultramodern mechanic complex, hotel facilities, export and import trading facilities, while the project will be completed in 36 months.
Also, in a continued solidarity, the leader of Ahoada East Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. ThankGod Bernard Unwhe and seven other councillors have declared their support and loyalty to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
By their action, the councillors, representing eight electoral wards in the 13-ward LGA, have finally joined to declare total support and commitment to mobilise their supporters to key into the governor’s policies and programmes to advance good governance in the state.
All eight councillors were elected on the platform of the PDP and were also top leaders of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) before they took the decision to join and rally behind the SIMplified Movement in the interest of the state.
The eight councillors made their position known during a crucial meeting presided over by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Edison Ehie, at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday evening.
They affirmed that the councillors have pledged allegiance and loyalty to the Chief Executive Officer of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The eight councillors, who spoke separately during the meeting, said their action was voluntary and necessary to ensure that the people in their various communities were not left behind in the wind of change blowing across the 23 LGAs of the state.
On the issue of who should be the leader of the party in the state, they stated that “as provided by the Constitution of our party, the Governor of the State at any given point in time is the leader of the party. Not only the PDP. Even other parties have the same rule. Therefore, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as Governor of the State, remains the leader of PDP and Number One Citizen of the State.”
They said the people can only enjoy the benefits of liberation in the SIMplified Family because everybody had equal opportunities to participate freely in socio-economic and political activities without harassment and intimidation.
Responding, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who hails from the same local government area, encouraged the eight new members of the SIMplified Movement to remain steadfast and resolute in their support for the governor.
He assured them of the governor’s determination to carry everybody along, saying that Rivers people have nothing to worry about as his administration will not renege on any of his campaign promises.
Besides Unwhe, the other seven councillors include Rt. Hon. Ogenma Idalunimulu for Ward 6; Hon. Beatrice Abraham representing Ward 1; Hon. Bright Uwandu representing Ward 2; Hon. Princewill Aguiyi for Ward 4; Hon. Livingstone Alali for Ward 9; Hon. Bob Ololube for Ward 12; and Hon. Edi Chituru representing Ward 13.
