Fubara swears in five new commissioners, two special advisers

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, sworn in five new commissioners into his cabinet and two special advisers at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt.

After the exit of the nine commissioners loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Fubara had in May this year sworn in eight commissioners.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Fubara declared that despite pockets of political distraction, his administration will continue doing everything possible to ensure that the expectations of Rivers people are met.

The governor insisted that governance is about the provision of quality development of both infrastructure and appropriate social amenities that contribute to making life pleasurable and better for the people.

He, therefore, assured that his administration will remain focused with greater determination to deliver on its responsibility to justify the support received from over eight million Rivers people.

The commissioners that were sworn in are: Hon. Ilamu Arugu (Abua/Odual); Dr. Roland Obed-Whyte (Degema); Sir Austin Emeka Nnadozie (Etche); Hon. Samuel Eyiba (Ahoada West); and Hon. Samuel Anya (Abia State); while the special advisers include Barrister Forgive Amachree (Ahoada-West) and Mr. Achor Nna (Obio-Akpor).

Fubara said: “We are into governance now, not politics. When we get to the time of politics, we will talk about politics. But today, what we are doing here is welcoming you onboard, charging you to be good ambassadors, not just to this administration, but to your people.

“It is a call to duty. Work in a manner so that everybody will be happy. Governance is about making the people happy, and that is our aim.

“At the end of the day, Rivers people will not ask us what or the number of court judgments that we have or the protests that we did. They want to see results. Joining us today is to help us to have enough A’s on our report card.

“Let me at this point thank our team for your continuous support. We will continue to make the good people of Rivers State proud: that their standing by us wasn’t a mistake.”

Fubara congratulated the new appointees, saying that despite knowing some of them while others were recommended by their leaders, the charge to all of them is to ensure that they do not disappoint the confidence reposed in them.

He urged them to defend the State and the Government at all times without involving themselves in anything that will delay the course of governance.

Fubara said: “So, I want to say that finding yourself here is an opportunity for you to defend the Government and also ensure that what these millions of people fought for about 11 and a half months ago is not in vain.

“They stood for something, and today, because of that standing, we are still here, standing and conducting governance, even in the face of little distractions, here and there.

“Joining our team today is an opportunity for you to add value. We are not bringing you onboard to criticize or engage in abusing people, because the only reason why the detractors are intensifying their shots is so that we will miss our target. Don’t give them such room.”

Governor Fubara particularly advised the Abia-born Dr. Samuel Anya, who has been appointed as a representative of non-indigenes, to be open to accommodating all non-indigenes from the West, East, North, and the minorities with equal treatment.

“Don’t say because you are from the East, it is all about the East. Please, be a better representative, so that your people will be happy and this support that we are getting from the non-indigenes will increase. We need their support,” he added.