Those Who Burnt Secretariats Must Be Held To Account, Fubara Vows

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Raises Commission To Probe Arson, Killings At Council HQs ...



New Rivers CP Vows To Tackle Crisis In Councils, Restore Peace PORT HARCOURT – Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration will not fold its hands and watch spon­sored political thugs run berserk, com­mitting arson in the state. The governor, therefore, vowed to initiate measures that will unravel those behind the recent burning of council sec­retariats at Ikwerre, Emohua and Eleme local government areas with a view to making them account for their atrocities. Governor Fubara gave the assurance while swearing in four new commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tues­day.

­ A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed that those sworn in include Hon. Isra­el Lebura Ngbuelu; Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi; Hon.

Otamiri John Ngubo; and Hon. Benibo Anabraba. Governor Fubara recalled that when he swore in the newly elect­ed local government councils’ chairmen on October 6, 2024, there was intelligence on the planned mayhem by misguided persons, who had threatened to prevent the elected officers from resum­ing duties.

Governor Fubara, however, expressed sadness that the spon­sored political thugs hatched their plans, and burnt valued buildings at some council secretariats. He said, “I said it before it happened. I knew because they were unhappy, they would go ex­tra miles to create disaffection in the minds and hearts of the good people of Rivers State.

“We want to also let the people know that what has happened (arson) after the election, we are not going to allow it to go uninves­tigated. “A similar event had happened in this manner before, and after some weeks, some of our support­ers were declared wanted in order to turn the story around. “But this time around, I strong­ly believe, with the support and cooperation of the Nigeria Police and the Directorate of State Ser­vices (DSS), we will unravel those behind the assault and make sure that they account for their atroc­ities.

” Governor Fubara applauded the show of patience and calm­ness by the majority of Rivers people, despite the fact that they were angry with the reckless acts of misguided miscreants. The governor said he has continued to show leadership, provided the climate that has en­gendered productive endeavours, and will not mislead those he is leading. “As your leader, the one steer­ing the ship, I assure you I will not mislead any of you.

I still stand on the path of peace. We have cases of arson in some local govern­ment areas. “But I appreciate your calm­ness.

I have always maintained that we are going to be the greatest losers, if we meet them force-for-force. We need to go with peace. “So, I will encourage everyone of you not to follow them with vio­lence.

We are carrying a basket of precious eggs in our hands. So, we need to follow them with careful­ness and wisdom.” Governor Fubara reiterated what he said the previous day about what should matter most for Rivers State, which is a firm support to ensure that the prog­ress of Nigeria is sustained.

He said if oil theft is not checked, the country’s economy will be badly impacted, and there will not be funds to address criti­cal issues. “We are in a situation where the fund that is being generated from oil production is not suffi­cient to tackle the challenges of Nigeria, and every hand has to be on deck to make sure that there is an increase in production. “Our focus here, not minding the distractions, will be how to provide support.

You have to work with us to make sure that we curb this issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism. “This is the only way that the allowances (revenue) will in­crease and more will also come to our state, and more progress will also be achieved in this state.” Governor Fubara explained that his administration was do­ing a lot for the good people of the state that are not being seen because of the political drama that takes their attention away.

” He, however, said that his administration is working out modalities, and will soon choose a day, which could probably be before the end of October, 2024, to showcase a few projects and services that have positively im­pacted lives in the state. Governor Fubara congratu­lated the newly sworn-in com­missioners for making it into the Rivers State Executive Council. He explained that more per­sons whose loyalty are for Rivers people and the administration needed to be admitted into the Rivers State Executive Council to help drive the policy of govern­ment because they will not resign their appointment.

Governor Fubara said: “We want to be sure, at this point, who we are adding into the council, so that we will not wake up one morning and see resignation let­ters. So, we are taking our time. “And usually, after a normal political period, there used to be what we call balancing.

So, I can also say that the new commission­ers that are coming in are coming from their zones to also balance the political equation.” Governor Fubara charged them to be dedicated, forthright, diligent and productive while ren­dering quality services to the state. The governor said he believes in their capacity to deliver because of their exposure to the workings of government, and expressed the hope that they will contribute positively to the success of the administration.

He said, “So, let me thank ev­eryone. Let me also use this oppor­tunity to thank the good people of Rivers State for their support, and to assure them that we will contin­ue to defend, protect the interest of Rivers people. “I want to thank all of you for your support, more especially before, during and after the elec­tions.

I appreciate your dogged­ness, your belief in our course to salvage this state, to protect the integrity of this state,” he added. Meanwhile, Fubara has inau­gurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arson, killings, and destruction of prop­erty at various local government council headquarters in the state. Governor Fubara inaugurated the seven-member commission at the Executive Chambers of Gov­ernment House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

A statement signed by the gov­ernor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nel­son Chukwudi, disclosed that the commission was given one month to conclude its assignment, adding that Hon. Justice Ibiwengi Rose­line Minakiri has been mandated to serve as it’s chairman, while Mrs. Inyingi Brown would serve as the commission’s Secretary and Uzor Ikenga as the counsel.

Other members are Felicia Nwoke, Prof. Blessing Didia, Sir Samuel Egbe, and Venerable Alex Usifor. The governor said the recent attacks and burning of local gov­ernment councils’ secretariats on October 7, 2024, seemed like a repeat of what was experienced in 2014, months to the general elec­tions of 2015 when courts were set ablaze, residences bombed and people killed, leading to the closure of courts in Rivers State.

He, however, assured that his administration will not look away while ill-guided youths and spon­sored political thugs turn the state into a theater of violence without being made to pay for such crimes against the state. New Rivers CP Vows To Tackle Crisis In Councils, Restore Peace Meanwhile, the newly de­ployed Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Mustapha Mo­hammed Bala, has vowed to tackle trouble makers and restore peace in troubled councils of the state. CP Bala made the vow during his maiden speech at the state po­lice command headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, shortly after resuming duty.

The CP noted that Rivers State as one of the economic hubs in the country is faced with several security challenges such as kid­napping, oil bunkering, cultism among others, promising to use holistic approach in tackling the myriads of challenges. He said his immediate re­sponse to the crisis rocking the various councils would be to restore normalcy and to collabo­rate with critical stakeholders to address the challenges head-on. Bala said: “I am aware that Rivers State, being one of the nation’s economic hubs, faces unique security challenges.

From incidents of kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, and oil bunkering to communal clashes and violent crimes, and more recently crises emanating from political interests, the complexi­ties of maintaining law and order here require a proactive and stra­tegic approach. “My priority task is to swiftly restore calm in the respective local government areas where pockets of violence and arson attacks have been present, and my com­mitment is to work collaboratively with the state and non-state actors as well as all critical stakeholders to address these challenges head-on,” he stated. The CP said he has reviewed the current security situation in the state, and outlined his vision and strategies for ensuring the safety and security of the state to including the strengthening of in­telligence gathering, community policing and public engagement, emphasising that the police has zero tolerance for corruption and unprofessional conduct, adding that the police would ramp up efforts in tackling cultism and youth violence, as well as combat­ing oil theft and environmental crimes.

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