Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, revealed on Tuesday that he only commenced full governance of the state in February 2024, eight months after officially assuming office in May 2023.
He made this disclosure while inaugurating the Egbeda internal roads in the Emohua Local Government Area.
Fubara, who did not provide specific reasons for the delay in fully taking over governance, hinted at the political crisis involving his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, as a possible factor.
Despite the delayed start, he expressed confidence in the progress made since February.
“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 the regular governance,” Fubara said.
The governor emphasized that the true commencement of his governance began in February 2024, marking the period when he started making decisions and confronting governance challenges head-on.
He noted that the response from the people has been positive.
“I know why I said four months. We started full governance in February 2024.
That was when we started taking decisions, when we started confronting governance.
And I am proud to say that our people are happy with what we have done,” he added.
Fubara assured the people of Rivers State of quality projects and efficient service delivery.
He stated, “What we want to do is to bring governance to our people, service delivery at record time, and in a cost-effective way.”
Despite the delay in taking full control, Fubara maintained that his administration is one of transparency and accountability.
He highlighted the importance of record-keeping in governance and assured that all his activities are documented.
“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,” he stated.
He continued, “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 he will see the history.”
“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,” he concluded.
