Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State has advised the newly sworn-in Local Government chairmen to emulate him and be “patient and calculative” in their approach to governance.
He gave the advice on Sunday while swearing them in, raising the alarm that there are plans to mobilise suspected gunmen to unleash violence at the 23 LG headquarters across the state on Monday as they resume work.
Fubara, who noted that desperate situations required desperate measures, also assured the Federal Government that he would not be a party to the breakdown of law and order in the state, insisting that he would continue to approach every situation with peace.
He, however, urged the newly-elected LG chairmen in the state to emulate his approach to governance and eschew violence and declared that the controversy surrounding the Rivers LG elections is effectively over.
Fubara said, “I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters.
“Please, if they are coming with violence, avoid them. The peace of this state is too important to us.
Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.
“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the Promised Land.
“I am so glad that the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum of PDP, is here with us to witness this ceremony. I want to assure you that I remain a member of PDP, but the truth is that desperate situations require desperate measures.
“We were confronted with a situation where the local government of this state was heading to doom. The truth is that because of the genuine love we have for this state, we must salvage the councils.
‘’What we did with the support of Rivers people was to salvage the councils. To the glory of God, that has been done and dusted. Michelle Obama said when they set a very low standard, you set a very high standard.
“We are not going to go with their ways, we are not going to confront or fight anybody, we will continue to use the means of peace, ensuring that the assets of this state are protected. We are assuring the Federal Government that we are not going to be a party to any breakdown of law and order.
‘’We know that if there is a breakdown of law and order in this state, Nigeria will suffer and we are not party to it. And that is the reason our standard, in terms of maturity, must be high. For the newly sworn-in chairmen, I want you to see yourself as servants.
“Once you see yourself as emperor, that is where the problem begins. Once you see yourself as the one who knows it all, because of the power of the fund in your pocket, that is where we start seeing crisis. Let us see this opportunity as a call to service, as an opportunity for you to bring people together and deliver to the people of Rivers State.
“We need development in the 23 LGAs. That is the truth. A few things might have happened, but more needs to be done. And I’m charging you to be that ambassador. Ensure you represent the people that have elected you well. Represent them well.
“Work for the betterment of your local governments. Ensure you are servants. Open your doors. Embrace everyone and I assure you that nothing is bigger and greater than that. That is the structure.
‘’When you work for the people, when you bring them in, when you help them, there is nothing bigger than that. That will be the ingredient of this administration. I want to charge you to be peace-loving.
‘’I am aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow (today) when you resume in your local government headquarters. But please, if they are coming with violence, avoid them.
“The peace of the state is too important to lose. It is on public notice. Everybody knows what they are planning. But please, I want to beg everyone to follow my approach. You always win if you are patient and creative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land,” he added.
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