The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has refuted claims that he is an ungrateful fellow, noting however that he acknowledges and appreciates anyone who has been instrumental to good gestures on his way.
Fubara stated this in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi on Monday at Government House in Port Harcourt when the Stakeholders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, including the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, Ikwerre women, opinion and youth leaders, paid him a courtesy visit.
The governor claimed that because of his impeccable lifestyle and disposition, he had never considered acting rashly when it came to resolving the state’s current political problem.
In order to recommit the members of the ethnic nationality to the administration’s success, the leadership structure of Ikwerre stakeholders led other paramount monarchs, political leaders, thinking leaders, women, and youths on the visit.
Fubara said that it would have been hard to keep his ungratefulness and poor character a secret from everyone for too long, as has been suggested in certain quarters.
He said, “I want to also say this: Fubara is not an ungrateful person. If I were a bad person, you (one) can’t hide a character that is bad for more than one week, two weeks, one month, one year, two years, eight years, or even more than eight years. For 16 years, if I was a bad person, everybody would have known.
“But, even your own child that is in your house that you have given birth to let us start with even the girl child. It gets to a stage where your girl child will enter the bathroom and lock the door from behind.
“Even if they forcefully put a feeding bottle in my mouth, if I get filled up, won’t I pull it out? So, when people stand outside and say what they say, I want you people to ask them to tell you in their own good conscience, what is that bad thing, that wickedness, that ungratefulness that this man (Fubara) has ever shown or done? But, I leave that one to God, who will judge everybody.”
Fubara, however, asserted that the purpose of the visit was to thank God and the delegation for their contributions to the state rather than to discuss matters pertaining to the current turmoil. He recalled how some had injected ethnic politics propaganda into the situation, but he also pointed out that Ikwerre people had come out to openly express their support, and that the solidarity visit makes it abundantly evident that they are a part of his government and will stick with it through to the very end.
The Rivers Governor noted that he has a culture of respect for people, no matter their status, and the larger number of Ikwerre people who acknowledge have come to demonstrate their support to his administration.
He said, “What kind of support again do I need, when their fathers are here with me to say look, we support you? It is the greatest blessing that any son can get. So, let me thank all the royal fathers, and opinion leaders of Ikwerre (Nation) Worldwide for this support.
“I want to assure you that not minding what is happening, I will not throw caution to the wind. I will continue to appreciate the support you people gave and continue to give to me through one of your sons.
“It doesn’t matter whether the person accepts it or not. I will continue to appreciate it. That one alone is what makes me restrain my actions when it gets to that point when I need to act.
“The restrain is because I was a well-brought-up boy. My story is clear: I wasn’t disowned. I was a pure young man. I served people, and I have a genuine record of everything. So, I tell you with all boldness and strength that I am well brought up, and for that reason, I have respect for others.”
“I just want to appeal to all of you, always stand for what is right. It doesn’t matter whether one million people are on the other side. If you are the only one standing on the right side, stand: you won’t get tired. But those people standing on the wrong side, definitely, will be exhausted.
“Let me also assure you people that are here and the people that you represent: our government will be a government that will give equal opportunity to everybody. It will be a government that will operate a system where no man is oppressed.
“I will not by any means, directly or indirectly, oppress anybody. I want to leave this office and be a peaceful man, walking the streets without security. That is the greatest achievement of a good leader,” he added.
Fubara gave N100 million for the organization’s operations in addition to a car present to the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide. Fubara made a pledge on behalf of the government to take over and finish the Obiri Ikwerre Secretariat.
The Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide President General, Eze Godspower Onuekwa, stated in his statement that the Ikwerre people had their turn to run the state and could not stand by and watch while an unknown individual destroys the peace the governor has worked so hard to maintain.
Eze Onuekwa lauded the governor for the numerous development projects being executed across the various local government areas, including those of Ikwerre, pledged the unalloyed support of the good people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality to the administration.
