Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the other party to the Supreme Court judgment, Rivers State House of Assembly, RSHA, need to know that they are also to comply with the ruling, and do so with commitment that prioritises the interest of the state.
The governor maintained that such resolve must engender collective action towards achieving peace in the state because it serves as the potent medium through which all the arms of government can function properly while creating public goods that benefit everyone.
Governor Fubara, who spoke at the inauguration of the 85-year-old Okrika Grammar School in Okrika Local Government Area on Thursday, emphasised that without an enduring peace, sustainable development will be hampered practically, while the sense of security, respect, tolerance, stability, and well-being to pursue goals will suffer.
The governor said: “Let me thank everyone, and also say this, it is important at this stage that we all embrace peace. The Supreme Court has made its judgment, we don’t have any option than to abide by it.
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“And, by the special grace of God, we have started the process. We are appealing to other parties, consider the interest of Rivers State, it is important. The only thing that we owe this state is peace and development. I am open any day, any time for total peace in our state, because if I have to govern well, there is need for peace to prevail.”
Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara recalled how the planning committee of the 20th Anniversary of the Diocese of Okrika Anglican Communion visited, and appealed to him to give the school, dilapidated for a long time, a facelift.
Governor Fubara said he considered their request on the premise of the place the school filled in history and the importance of quality education in addressing some social vices among idle and uneducated youths.
The governor stated: “I felt the least, as a government, we can do is to uplift the standard of this school. And, it is not out of place, because it is part of our agenda. The key things in this administration’s agenda are healthcare, education and food sufficiency (agriculture).
“So, we immediately keyed into it, and to the glory of God, we are here today to unveil one of the things that we have done, even in the face of these situations confronting our administration, which we didn’t bring upon ourselves. But we give God all the glory.”
Governor Fubara assured the Anglican Church that whatever that was remaining, within the scope of what had been approved in the institution, would be completed, stressing that education had remained the bedrock of development in any society.
He added that if the key ingredients (facilities) to boost education were properly managed, crime would be reduced drastically, saying: “So, I believe that when all the facilities put in place in this school are put into full use, the level of crime, the level of criminality would definitely reduce, not just in Okrika but other neighbouring communities that will benefit from this school.”
In her welcome address, Head of Local Government Administration, Okrika Local Government Area, Mrs Obianime Appollos, said Okrika Grammar School in Okrika, established in 1940, had remained an iconic institution known for academic excellence, and thanked Governor Fubara for remodelling the structures and restoring the status of the institution after years of neglect of all facilities, which she said demonstrated his commitment to providing quality education, investment in the future of Rivers children and improving the well-being of the people.
