Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has inaugurated eight commissioners cleared by three lawmakers led Victor Oko-Jombo.

The governor made this known last night in a tweet on his X-handle.

In the message, he reaffirmed his dedication to providing quality leadership for the people of Rivers State.

Fubara emphasised his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of Rivers people in all considerations.

The commissioners are: Prince Charles O. Bekee, Onunwo Collins. Solomon Abel Eke, Peter Medee, Olisaelloka Tasie-Amadi, Basoene Joshua Benibo, Tambari Sydney Gbara and Dr. Ovy Orluideye Chinendum Chukwuma.

During the screening, two of the nominees, Sir Peter Medee and Olisaelloka Tasie-Amadi, a lawyer, were asked by the lawmakers to take a bow.

The nominees promised to bring their wealth of experience to bear on governance.

The House Leader, Sokari Good Boy Sokari, pleaded with his colleagues to confirm the nominees since most of them had served in various capacities in the state.

Oko-Jumbo commended Fubara for his achievements, urging him to remain focused and shun distractions.

Fubara yesterday explained why he would not be affected by his decision to probe his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Fubara, who served as Accountant-General in the Wike administration, said he acted as a civil servant based on approvals by the former governor.

He said critics of the proposed probe needed to know that he has records of his involvement in the state’s financial transactions as a civil servant.

Speaking during the inauguration of Egbeda internal roads, Fubara insisted that his records would show that everything he did under the last administration was based on approvals.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who inaugurated the roads, expressed optimism that peace would return to the state.

Also, a High Court sitting in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, stopped the elongation of tenure of local government chairmen.

I am ready for queries, says Fubara

Defending his decision to probe the preceding Administration, Fubara said he was ready to answer queries, having documented all his activities as a civil servant.

He said: “What we bring to our people is service delivery at record time and cost-effective. Everything we are doing is in my white paper. I carry it along. There is no issue of any manipulation. Call me any day, any time, it is there.

“Even the ones l 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. I know that as a civil servant, what is most important is record keeping.

“I am not scared of anything. Anybody who calls me up any day, any time, I have my records to show. I have all the approvals to show that I acted based on approvals and not personal decisions. We are not going to rest until we make everyone happy in Rivers State.”

Fubara commended the contractor for delivery the ⁷road on record time and the people of the area for cooperating with the company.

He said that his administration only started taking decisions on governance in February, adding that if within four months he could deliver such projects, he would do more within two years in office.

Fubara said: “It is one thing awarding a job, but another delivering at record time. Let me also thank the great people of Egbeda in extensions Emohua Local Government Area for your support before, during and after the election.”

‘Peace will return to Rivers’

Oborevwori said peace will return to the state, assuring that the feud between Fubara and Wike will be resolved.

He lauded the governor for his infrastructural projects, urging him to sustain the tempo of achievements.

Oborevwori 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.

“Let me thank you for your support to my brother. What I have seen here is organic love. It is not a borrowed crowd.i promise you he will not fail you peace will return to Rivers State”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs, said the project was delivered within schedule and fully paid for.

He recalled 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 N3.87billlion.

Briggs added: “Later on November 27, 2023, the contract was reversed to include additional roads to better serve the Egbeda community. As a result, the reverse contract sum was increased to N12billion.

“Before our governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara took office on May 29, 2023, only N1.5billion of the contract sum had been paid by the previous administration”.

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.”

Former Works Commissioner Emmanuel Omah, said Egbeda land, which is made up of the largest indigenous natives in nine communities, was grateful to the governor for completing the project.

Court stops tenure elongation for chairmen

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt declared the six-month tenure elongation of the elected local government chairmen null and void.

Their tenure was elongated by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

The court also declared the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, whose provisions extended the tenure of local government chairmen, as invalid.

The court ruled that the law was inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No 5 of 2018, which fixed three-year tenure for local government chairmen and councilors. (The Nation)

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