My Commitment To Infrastructural Devt Not Politically Motivated – Gov Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that his administration’s commitment to massive development of Kalabari land is divested from political patronage.

This, he explained that it is genuinely informed by how much the realisation of such transformation will ease life among the people and all of Rivers Ijaw land.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara

 

 

 

Gov. Fubara stated this while addressing traditional rulers, chiefs, leaders and people of Kalabari people across Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas who visited him in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 to pledge solidarity and declare total support for a second term for the governor.

Overwhelmed by the large turnout over the visit, the governor told his guests, “My interest and love for you is not because I want to win elections. It is because I see you as my own. My heart is very clean and my commitment to governance is pure.

“So when you see what we are doing, understand we are not cheap people, we are honest and deliberate with the quality of the things we are doing. Don’t expect it from others, you can only get it from those that their intentions are pure.

He noted that his administration deliberately ventured into the Trans-Kalabari road knowing its hugeness. According to him, “We know what we are entering into. It isn’t a joke, but a big project and we believe at the end of it the level of development it will attract to that area of Kalabari will be unprecedented.

He emphasised that issues of insecurity on the waterways will be reduced as people will be moving by roads and no more by water, which will also translate to reducing cost of living for the people.

“So you can understand that your interest, safety and development are key to us. It is not about the number of years that we are going to be here that is important to this government, it is the impact we make while in power.

“Buguma-Abalama-Tema-Degema-Abonnema road is ongoing, the Zonal Hospital that we intend to commission in May, is already at advanced stage of completion going by the level of work done. Even before mentioning the General Hospital in Abonnema I have already directed the Commissioner for Health to take action.”

The governor further pledged to address more land reclamation, recognition of more traditional stools and establishment of tertiary institutions in Kalabari land while calling for sustained peace among the people.

“I assure you that what we have done and what we are doing is not because we want to get your support due to our interest in politics. What we have done and still doing is because it is our responsibility to make life better for our people.

Gov. Fubara, visibly emotional, reflected on past claims that Opobo—his hometown—is not Ijaw, yet today, his strongest support base is from the Ijaw people.

He vowed to protect those facing political persecution for supporting his administration, pledging legal and governmental backing for them.

Earlier on the visit to express their gratitude and support, Chief Pawariso Horsefall, speaking for Kalabari nation, told the governor, that in less than two years in office, he has left no one in doubt about his determination to take Rivers to enviable heights.

“Our state has witnessed a quantum leap in the provision of critical infrastructure, especially in the construction of roads and bridges across the swamps and mangroves—an area previous administrations dreaded to tread.”

The people thanked the governor for restoring Trans-Kalabari Road to its original design, the commencement of the phase that connects Bakana, Oguama, Bukuma, and Tombia to the capital city of Port Harcourt.

They equally applauded him for total reconstruction of the Emohua-Kalabari Road, the ongoing reconstruction of the 19.7-kilometre Buguma-Abalama-Tema-Degema-Abonnema road, and the rehabilitation of the Degema General Hospital.

“You have changed the story of road construction in Rivers State by building roads and bridges through swamps and opening up economic opportunities for our people, and requested for recognition and upgrading of more traditional stools in Kalabari as well as land reclamation and shore protection.”

Ahead of 2027, Horsefall told Gov. Fubara, “As Kalabari, we are proud of you as Governor of Rivers, particularly as an Ijaw son, following in the footsteps of King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Late Chief Melford Okilo, and Chief Rufus Ada-George, Sir Dr. Odili, and others.

“We are proud to say that Kalabari stood firmly with all these former Rivers State governors. In line with our unimpeachable support for Your Excellency, we hereby call on you to run for a well-deserved second term in office in the year 2027.

He said the Kalabari nation is prepared to lead the campaign for his second term as governor of Rivers State, especially with the massive support he enjoys across the state and beyond will make the task much easier for them.

“Your humility, uncommon achievements, and commitment to the “Rivers First” philosophy have endeared you to Rivers people.We therefore unanimously endorse Your Excellency for a second term.”