Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared his readiness to render an account of his activities as governor at any time and as a civil servant before he became governor.
He informed that he has approvals for his activities, which are not based on personal decisions.
The governor made the declaration at Egbeda Community Secondary School field, the venue of the inauguration of the Egbeda Internal Roads project in Emohua Local Government Area, on Tuesday.
He assured that his administration would continue to deliver projects that positively impact people directly while also empowering them to live better lives.
The Governor pointed out that the projects people were seeing were accomplishments of four months, explaining that his administration actually started taking decisions and addressing governance in February 2024. He insisted that good governance, service, and projects were being delivered cost-effectively.
Gov. Fubara said, “We are just starting, but I assure you more attention. If in four months we can do this and we are getting this level of applause, you can imagine what will happen when we do one year of our record time, two years of our own record time. Rivers State would have experienced something different from regular governance.
“I know why I said four months. We started full governance in February 2024. That was when we started taking decisions and confronting governance. I am proud to say that our people are happy with what we have done.
“What we want to do is bring governance to our people, service delivery in record time, and in a cost-effective way.
He added, “Everything that we are doing is in my white paper. I carry it along, so there is no issue of any manipulation. Call me any day, anytime, it is there. Even the ones I did before this time, I still have all the records.
“If you call me any day, I will bring the records of all my activities in government because I know that as a civil servant, what is most important is record keeping; so that if you are not there and something happens, it is just for somebody to pick up the file and see the history.
“That is how I am trained, and I have that in my mind before I do anything. So, I am not scared of anything. Anybody who calls me any day, anytime, I have my records to show. I have all the approvals to show that I acted based on approval and not personal decision.”
Gov. Fubara emphasized that the Egbeda Internal Roads Project has been accomplished to both satisfy the needs of the people by making them happy and solving the perennial flooding problems experienced in the area. He acknowledged the support of the people before, during, and after the elections, and said what his administration owed them was the dividends of democracy that included projects and social service delivery.
According to Gov. Fubara, “One thing is awarding a job, another is delivering in record time. I want to appreciate the contractor for standing by his word.
“Let me also thank the great people of Egbeda, and by extension, the Emohua Local Government Area, for your support before, during, and after the elections. You have shown so much support.
“And for us, what do we owe you? We owe you the dividends of democracy. And what are the dividends of democracy? Service to our people!”
He went on, “There is nothing wrong with rebuilding a road, there is nothing wrong with promising to develop an area. But what is important is when you want to do those things, do them to the satisfaction of the people.
“And what we have done here in Egbeda today is not just building the internal roads, but meeting your needs and solving your flood problem. That is what we have done.
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“So, I want to also thank you for your support, because you cooperated with the contractor, that is why he delivered in record time.”
Performing the inauguration of the project, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said he drove with Governor Fubara on the road while accessing the venue of the event, and can testify to the commitment of his brother governor to sustain infrastructure development in the State.
He said, “This road project at Egbeda bears true testimony of the commitment of the Rivers State Government towards fulfilling its promise of sustainable infrastructure development of the State.
“It is reassuring that these all-season roads will economically empower, not only the people of Egbeda, but the entire Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“With these roads, the people will enjoy better socio-economic empowerment and integration between the local government and the rest of the state,” he added.
Providing the description of the project, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Engr. Atemea Briggs, said the construction of the Egbeda Internal Roads project was delivered within schedule and fully paid for.
Engr. Briggs explained that the internal roads were initially awarded by the immediate past administration on March 9, 2023, to Monier Construction Company Nigeria Limited (MCC) at a cost of N3.87 billion.
“Later on November 27, 2023, the contract was revised to include additional roads to better serve the Egbeda community. As a result, the revised contract sum was increased to N12 billion.
“Before our Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara took office on May 29, 2023, only N1.5 billion of the contract sum had been paid by the previous administration,” he said.
Engr. Briggs said the roads entailed an increase of the total lanes from 9.32 kilometers to 21.5 kilometers, and the total drainage length to 25.4 kilometers.
