By Sam Akanimo
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State says his administration will continue to do everything possible to promote coexistence among all residents despite their religious inclinations while accommodating one another.
Governor Fubara was speaking during a Sallah solidarity visit by a delegation led by the Vice President General and Chairman, Association of South-South Muslim Ummah of Nigeria, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, to Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara has also expressed excitement at an independent assessment carried out by some online media platforms that rated the state high in terms of projects’ delivery by first time governors in Nigeria.
The governor said though he is not given to media hype, his performance in service and projects’ delivery, is in the public domain, visible to everybody, as life-changing strides of his administration.
Uhor is also the Chairman of the Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs (RSCIA). According to the governor, most people have continued to talk about the modest achievements that the administration has achieved in one year, which are being celebrated because they are genuine development efforts.
As a matter of fact, I am not a social media person, but I am aware of the fact that first term governors, when they rated them on Twitter and all social media platforms, Rivers was ranked number one.
“We are not talking about a 2-kilometre road project. We are not talking about building one primary school. We are talking about life-changing projects; and that is why you don’t need to argue with anybody about what we have done. We don’t need to beat our drums because what we have done is there for the world to see”, he said.
Fubara emphasised the grace of God that is at work, enabling his administration to steady governance, and assured that the mark of development will leave Rivers more better. He said, “It is a difficult system but one with God is one with majority. So, when you have God around, you need to fear nothing. They will plan, they will gather, but their gathering, at the end of the day, will be to your own glory.
So, I can say boldly that God has been very faithful to us against the expectations of a lot of people. He’s been guiding us, holding us forth, and we can boldly beat our chest to say: so far, we have shown that we are a responsible government.
“We have shown that we mean well for Rivers people. We have shown that this is not just a government that merely wants to control: it is a government resolved to give everybody opportunity, a government that allows you to feel free, operate within the laws. That is the only way we can move from where we are to a higher pedestal.”
He noted the complaints surrounding the issues of the section Muslims bury their dead within the Port Harcourt cemetery, and request to be allowed to build a mosque within the Rivers State University premises for their worshippers, and assured that he will investigate to get at the true position before taking decisions.
“But that of the state worship centre, we will do something about it immediately. We are doing it because, the only way for us to control and reduce crime is when we have comfortable places where the word of God is preached to people who go and listen to learn. “Whether we like it or not, it is not a mistake when you see churches. It is not a mistake when you see a lot of mosques. It helps to reduce crime, because when people go to worship centres, they listen to the word and the fear of God comes.
“Some evil actions are curtailed compared to when you are not even hearing anything, and what is available to you is just the opportunity to commit crime only. So, we will make sure that we create a very conducive place for your worship because we know that at the end, it is going to be a win, win for our state”, he added.
Fubara advised the Muslim faithful to continue to obey the law, and work harmoniously with other residents, assuring that the state government will continue to support them.
In his speech, Uhor, said they are excited at the publicly stated commitment of the governor to promote freedom of worship and fully implement inclusive policies.
As a result, Uhor noted that there is inter-religious tolerance, zero attacks on Moslem faithful in the state, mutual agreement between Moslem and Christian groups to meet and pray together for peace of the state.
Uhor restated the resolve of Moslems in Rivers not to align with efforts that will truncate governance and the good policies to drive development agenda of the Fubara administration.
