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Our Governance Gives Peace, Offers Rivers People Freedom – Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that Rivers people are enjoying an era of peace and freedom to undertake their endeavours without molestation or anxiety to trigger hypertension.
The Governor also said there is an increased level of openness to governance that makes his administration well-disposed to suggestions that help in making amends where necessary because it is a democracy.
Governor Fubara spoke during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Anglican Archbishops and their wives led by the Primate, Archbishop Metropolitan of All Nigeria, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, at Government House in Port Harcourt, recently.
The Governor stated that his administration understands that God is supreme, towers above every other thing, and nothing happens without His approval, and thanked them for standing with his administration in prayers, which has continued to provide strength to keep the course of governance focused.
He added, “It is not the noise that we are making, not the protests, but it is those quiet prayers, and fasting that you are doing for us. And you are seeing the result of it, with what we are doing in the state.
“The kind of governance we are giving. Not governance of hypertension but governance of peace. Governance that gives people freedom to operate, governance that listens and admits. Where we are faulting, we say yes, we are faulting, and we make amends. It is only your prayers that are giving us the direction and wisdom.”
Governor Fubara assured that seeing such divine help, his administration will not deviate from the fear of God in order not to lead the government into destruction.
The Governor recalled how the leadership of the Anglican Church made several efforts to mediate in the political crisis in the State because they had considered that since the dramatis personae were all faithful, it will be much easier to broker peace.
Governor Fubara, who regretted that the efforts of the top echelon of clergy were rebuffed, said maybe God designed it to be so that he could enjoy the current level of freedom to offer purposeful governance to the State.
Speaking on their chosen theme, “The Bond of Peace: The Call of the Life and the Ministry of the Church”, Governor Fubara said peace remains the most valuable virtue to strive for because even Jesus Christ knew its importance, and bequeathed it to His disciplines at the point of His ascension to Heaven.
He stressed, “It is the only thing that is needed not just for our State, but for this country going by what we are seeing, read in the papers, experience in the market, encounter in the road, and how we even manage our families to be parents. What we really need is peace so that everything will become normal.”
In his address, Primate, Archbishop Metropolitan of All Nigeria, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, said Archbishops are in Rivers State for the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, which holds twice every year; in February and in September.
Most Rev. Ndukuba stated that for this Standing Committee, they chose the theme, “The Bond of Peace: The Call of the Life and the Ministry of the Church”, taken from Ephesians 4 verse 3, adding that they will make crucial decisions as they depend on God to build people of faith among themselves.
He said: “The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has about 170 Bishops and over 165 Dioceses with membership of over 20million Nigerians.
“Our ministry covers both within and outside of Nigeria, having missions across the world, including United States of America and Canada, and also UK and European missions and Golf States. We have missionaries across Africa.”
Most Rev. Ndukuba expressed gratitude to God for divinely ordaining Governor Fubara to govern Rivers State and equipping him to lead with the fear of God and steadied governance despite the political upheavals.
He said, “Leadership is a sacred trust from God Almighty, and as God’s people, the Scripture enjoins us to pray for those in authority. We are here to assure you of our prayers and to appreciate what God is doing through you.
“In spite of the challenges that you are facing, we thank God that you have kept focused, and you are executing the things that you need to do as the Executive Governor of this State.
“We want to thank you for creating enabling environment to enable businesses thrive, adding that different religions will have the freedom to practice their faith, both Christianity and the other religions.”
Most Rev. Ndukuba stated further: “But, particularly, we appreciate your support for the Christian Church, especially for the Anglican Church. And we thank God that you are a bonafide member of this church. We appreciate what you have allowed God to use you to do.”
Meanwhile, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Archbishops’ Standing Committee Meeting (SCM), is slated to be declared open on Wednesday (today) at the St. Cyprain’s Anglican Church, in Old Port Harcourt Township by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Highlights of the visit were prayers by the Archbishops for the Governor and his Government, the State and the Nation; as well as presentation of suovenir gifts to the visitors.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”