RIVERS State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on thursday, vowed not to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill To the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
He said the seats of Amaewhule and 24 others were declared vacant on December 13, 2023, after they dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fubara spoke when he received on a solidarity visit, the leadership structure, critical stakeholders, opinion leaders, women and youths of Etche and Omuma local government areas led by Ogbakor Etche, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Etche ethnic nationality at Government House, Port Harcourt. The Governor stated that his administration has started preparing the 2025 appropriation bill for presentation to the House of Assembly.
Fubara explained that the three priority areas that the 2025 budget will focus on will ensure that even if more roads will be constructed, emphasis will be placed on providing quality healthcare services to keep the people healthy.
The governor said: “Our children need to go to quality schools. Even if they can’t go to private schools, let them go to the public ones that have standard. We need to go to good health facilities owned by government and get standard healthcare services.
“Even if we cannot afford those private hospitals, when you go to the public ones, you can get the same services with qualified professionals. That is our thinking.
“And when we get to the issue of agriculture, it will address the issue of unemployment. When we start engaging our youths, they won’t have time to be involved in crime. So, our thinking is to secure and protect our state,” he added.
He reiterated that his administration is not fighting anybody and will continue to show appreciation to those who have contributed to the good fortunes he has received in life.
Fubara, however, clarified that loyalty does not mean losing one’s liberty, sense of discretion, and what is right, which is why he will not be a governor forced on his knees to oversee the affairs of the state.
The Governor said, “I want to assure you that we are not fighting anybody. We appreciate what God has used people to also do in our lives. But, we will not rule (govern) this state on our bent knees. We will rule standing this way I am standing.
“If it is only being on our knees to rule, that is the way that they will see us as being loyal, then, I will pack my few things that I have here and go and relax in my house comfortably because it will be a disaster, not just to me but to everyone in the state and even my own generation.
“So, I will continue to stand tall and stand on the side of truth. So, let me thank the President General (of Ogbakor Etche) for bringing your people, the great people of Etche and Omuma together to come and pay us a solidarity visit.
“We want to assure you that we recognize all ethnic groups, and we are not here because of any particular group. We are here and standing for Rivers State. Our greatest support has come, not from my own people (Opobo), but from all of you.”
In his speech, Onyeisi Etche, Eze Emmanuel Opurum, said Etche and Omuma people will continue to give full support to Governor Fubara and ensure that his administration succeeds.
For his part, the president-general of Ogbakor Etche Worldwide, Sir Charles Nwankwoala, said the Etche people, who share in Governor Fubara’s travails, joy, and many victories, came to pledge their unalloyed support, confidence, and faith in him and his administration.
