Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to spend his time in office executing tenable programmes and delivering services that will both improve the quality of life of all residents and create lasting impact for posterity.

The Governor also urged wives of police officers to be deliberate in advising their husbands to continue to discharge their duties in a professional manner since it is the best way to defend the truth.

Governor Fubara gave the charge when he received in audience the National President of Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, who is also the wife of the Inspector-General of Police, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night.

Governor Fubara said there are self-styled adversaries against his administration who want to frustrate governance, and cause distraction with provocative acts that are intended to induce violence.

But Governor Fubara said: “As a government, I know that you know all the stories around us. But we will continue to do the best we can for our people.

“At the end of the day, what people want to see or what they want to hear is the mark that we have made. It is not the level of distraction that we have been faced or that is confronting us.

“It is the impact that we have made in governance that will count. So, we will make sure that we continue to do that, focusing on the ball.

“We know that we have started well; one day, it will end, and we will leave. So, because we know that we have decided to take the path of peace (we are happy).”

Governor Fubara enjoined wives of police officers to fervently pray for his administration, and ensure that they advise their husbands to continue to stand on the path of truth.

The task, he noted, might be very challenging for them, but it should not matter whose ox is gored, because it is only the truth that eventually will last forever.

Governor Fubara harped on the importance of building a good name that should reckon in history and serve as reflection of how well one has conducted himself in the service of the people.

He said: “When that name is mentioned somewhere, let people say, ooh, this is a good man. You won’t be there again to defend it but the name can make you pass through. The truth is that we are the head, but you are the neck that controls the head.

“So, help us, pray for Rivers State, intercede for us. There are places that we cannot reach, but our message today is going to those places. So, please, that is the request we are making as a government. We do not want any trouble, what we are doing here is governance.

“The Bible doesn’t make a mistake when it says ‘the sins of the fathers will come upon their children’. So, we should learn and work as professionals. This is very important.”

Governor Fubara acknowledged the lofty accomplishments of POWA and how the association has also supported widows among them with lifelines to cushion the burden of life challenges on them.

The Governor said: “I strongly believe that if the Commissioner of Police (CP) is not doing what is right, you won’t be here. It means, he is living up to his responsibility.

“Let me also commend the wife (of the commissioner) for finding the time and willing to also spend the resources. One thing is to have the time, and the other is to be willing to spend the resources to leave a landmark; something that the police in Rivers State will not forget in a hurry.

“It doesn’t matter how big, what is important is giving back to the society. And I am happy that one of the cardinal objectives of this body (POWA) is giving back to society.

“You might think that what you are doing is nothing, but it goes a long way to assure the police officers, their wives that even if they are no more, somebody is there to look out in their stead for their wives. So, I want to encourage you to continue to do that.

“On our own part as a government, I think from my own record, I have been giving so much support to this association. This is not the first time. I know ones or twice, they have written to me for something, and I have supported them. I support them because I am also from the military background.”

Governor Fubara, who commended the Commissioner of Police in the State for his sterling performance, urged him not to hesitate to bring to his knowledge areas of further support that POWA will require.

He added, “And I can say boldly here, our mummy, you can transmit this one: Disu has been very professional. Without Disu, this State would have been destroyed. I can tell you that without this man being professional, this State would have been destroyed. If they need a recommendation letter, let them come, I will give them.

“You’ve been a very wonderful officer. I need to say this, let it be on record: You found yourself in a very difficult situation, but you’ve been really balanced. So, I want to commend you for that. Continue to be balanced, don’t shift the balance. We will do everything to give you the support for you to succeed more.

“What is important, I keep saying, I want where my children’s name would be mentioned; they say Fubara, do you know so, so person, they say he is my father, the response will be ‘good, good’. That is the greatest legacy anyone can keep.”

In her speech, National President of the Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA) and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, said they are in Port Harcourt to officially open for use the POWA Shopping Complex that was built by the branch of the association in the State.

Mrs Egbetokun explained that it is their duty as leaders at the national headquarters to go round facilities and branches of the association to see what progress has been made or challenges faced by members, including windows.

She said, “We are here in this State. The chairperson here told us that she has built a POWA Shopping Complex. So, we are here to commission it, and by the special grace of God, we have done that this afternoon.

“And we are able to empower our women, those who need our support, and that is what we have done. But it is actually a tradition in POWA that whenever we are in a State, we like to visit the Governor, and let him know about our activities. That is why we are here this evening, Sir.”

Mrs Egbetokun expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his generosity and immense support not only to POWA in the State but also to officers of the command that has served as good motivation for them to carry out their duties.

A Rivers State High Court has ordered the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct elections on October 5 to elect democratically elected officials into the 23 Local Government Councils in the State.

The court, presided over by Justice I. P. C. Igwe, in Port Harcourt, gave the order in its final judgment on the matter in SUIT NO. PHC/2696/CS/2024, between the Action Peoples Party (APP) as claimant, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Government and Governor of Rivers State as defendants.

A certified true copy of the judgment, reads: :Upon this matter coming up before Honourable Justice I. P. C. Igwe sitting at High Court 14, Port Harcourt for Hearing and Determination and After Hearing A. E. Godswill Esq, for the Claimant, holding the brief of E. D. A. Ojoko Esq, and Lois C. Oko Jaja Esq, for the 1st Defendant, P. Enebeli, Assistant Director Ministry of Justice, appearing for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, it is hereby Ordered as follows: That upon the construction of Section 7 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are bound to make provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by Democratically elected Local Government Councils.’

The final court judgment also said, “That in view of Section 7 subsection 1, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 AS AMENDED, Section 5 (A) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law – No 2 of 2018, the Decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of Federation Vs Attorney-General of Abia State and 35 Ors and expiration of the tenure of the former democratically elected Local Government Councils in Rivers State on the 17th day of June, 2024, the Defendants are bound to conduct Election into the Local Government Councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time in order to comply with aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“That it is further declared chat in view of Section 5 (a) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No 2 of 2018, Section 9(1)(a) (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the exigencies of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of the Federation VS Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors, the 1st Defendant is entitled to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9(1)(a) (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, already in custody of the 1st Defendant to conduct Election into the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“That it is also declared that in view of the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria following the said Judgment in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024 Delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 to the effect that all states without Democratically elected Local Government Councils in place should conduct Elections into their respective Local Government Councils within three (3) months from the date of the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the defendants are bound to conduct elections into Local Government Councils in Rivers State on or before the expiration of the said three (3) months period, on the 5th day of October, 2024 and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Election, including sale of forms to candidates and their parties including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils”.

The court further said, “That an order of mandatory Injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 2nd and 3rd Defendant by themselves, or by their agents, privies, servants or representatives and proxies to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Council in Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are Conducted by Democratically Elected Local Government Councils.

“That it is further ordered that mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 1st Defendant to conduct election into Local Government Councils of Rivers State on the 5th Day of October, 2024 or on any other date fixed by the 1st Defendant in accordance with its Electoral Guidelines in order to comply with the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Elections including sale of forms to candidates and their parties, Including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils.

“That an order of mandatory injunction be and is hereby further issued directing or commanding the 1st Defendant to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9 (1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to conduct Election into the twenty-three (23) Local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“That the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Nigeria Army and all other Security Agencies and Paramilitary Organizations are hereby ordered to provide adequate security and ensure maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the Election”, the court ruled.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has challenged practitioners in the entertainment industry on the need to have robust events’ calendar that is attractive to investors and capable of driving the tourism sector in the State to enviable heights.

Governor Fubara made the challenge when some tourism enthusiasts and entertainment industry practitioners embarked on a Peace Walk as part of activities to mark 2024 World Tourism Day on September 27, with the theme: ‘Tourism and Peace.’

Governor Fubara, who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, received the group under the aegis of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

The Governor said there are abundance of tapped and untapped tourism potentials in the State, adding that the determination of the administration is to drive the already enunciated policy in a manner that will largely domesticate and also attract entertainment activities and other related tourism events to the State.

Governor Fubara said much of what can be achieved depends on the practitioners, who must take advantage of the secure, peaceful environment in incubating more tourism-induced ideas and engage with willing investors and promoters, just as they insist to have those activities done in the State.

He said, “I know that the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism is also working very hard to ensure that all the principles that His Excellency stands for are being put into practical use.

“We cannot reinvent the will, you already know all the ingredients that are needed for tourism to thrive in this State. All I can say is that you have to bring out ideas that will make for the right advice so that the government will continue to create the right environment for you.

“So, go out, fish in more investors for us. Because, when you talk about tourism, this part of the country has a lot of potentials for tourism, and many of them are still untapped. I believe that you know what to do to ensure that people will come and invest in these areas.

“It will not just be ordinary investments. These must be investments that would create jobs and mop up some of the people that are not employed now,” he said.

Governor Fubara also urged them to be more deliberate in creating the platform that will encourage the showcasing of upcoming talents in Port Harcourt who will require such nudging to blossom.

The Governor pointed to how Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt, had served as nurturing place for most celebrated stars in the movie, music and other areas of the entertainment industry.

He emphasised, “You have to create a platform where we have to still discover new talents in the music industry of all genres. We have to create a platform where some of the things you go to do in Lagos could be comfortably done here cheaper and you will be able to even have very robust base here in Port Harcourt.”

Governor Fubara, who wished them well as they get set to celebrate World Tourism Day, urged the conglomeration of all associations in the industry, to continue to engage in acts that promote the peace.

He urged them to do so by their conduct and activities as exemplified by Governor Fubara, who is now the highest definition of peace, srressing that this is why Port Harcourt has continued to remain one of the hottest spots for tourism.

He explained, “We have a Governor that wants to ensure that every part of this State is peaceful, and that you can see from all his actions, from all his utterances, from his personal conducts in doing the government business.

“I want to thank those of you that are operating here in Rivers State under the different umbrella and associations, and assure you that all that is needed to promote tourism will be made available to you,” he noted.

In his speech, the Director of Tourism in the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Kenule Kobo, explained that the Peace Walk is a pre-World Tourism Day activity designed to create awareness and mobilise the people to key into policy frameworks to promote and boost tourism in the State.

Mr Kobo said they are particularly impressed with the peaceful disposition of Governor Fubara, who has become the symbol of peace in the nation.

He said, “And today, the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism thought it wise that we should organise this walk despite all odds, to preach peace, talk peace, practice peace, dance peace, and laugh peace.

“All the people you see here Sir, they are with us, and they have come to celebrate the World Tourism Day. Tomorrow is the World Tourism Day proper, but today, we hyped it to say we will move around to create awareness of peace. We started it from Garrison up unto Station Bus-Stop, and round before coming here to meet with you our father.

“And today, we are here Sir, to celebrate the World Tourism Day with you, preaching peace to every nooks and crannies of Rivers State, led by our able Permanent Secretary, Barrister Ishmael Tomonialadeokuma”, he added.