Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has urged all citizens, particularly traditional rulers, to work together to ensure Nigeria’s stability and progress.
Speaking at the 117th/118th Combined Quarterly General Meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt on Monday, Governor Fubara spoke on the critical role of traditional leaders in curbing economic sabotage and maintaining order within their communities.
The governor said that stable country is important for economic advancement, noting that high crude oil production is vital for Nigeria’s economic growth.
He expressed concerns over ongoing illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism, stressing that these criminal activities are often perpetrated by individuals within the communities.
“I want to see a different society from this hour. The Federal Government is doing everything to see that our crude oil production level increases. But every day, we are having issues of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation and all the associated problems. All these people that are carrying out these evil acts, they’re not coming from the moon; they live in our communities, we know them,” said Governor Fubara.
He charged the traditional rulers to take responsibility for their domains and ensure that they report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
He also assured them of the government’s support, including potential financial assistance to establish local vigilante groups.
Governor Fubara expressed gratitude for the council’s resilience amidst the state’s political challenges and clarified that recent changes in the council’s leadership were made in good faith to bring fresh perspectives.
He commended the newly appointed chairman, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, for his leadership and urged him to guide the council with wisdom and fairness.
In his remarks, Eze Wodo thanked Governor Fubara for his efforts to maintain peace in the state despite political turmoil.
He appealed to all political actors to avoid violence and prioritize the state’s stability and growth.
“All of us know that those that are over-heating the polity have one aim: to make the State ungovernable so as to make it ripe for a declaration of State of Emergency. Please, Sir, advise your supporters to avoid every invitation to violence,” Eze Wodo stated.
The meeting also addressed the need for traditional rulers to focus on curbing the degradation of values and social decay in their communities. Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engr. Charles Amadi, highlighted the importance of traditional leaders in maintaining peace and fostering development.
