Protest:Gov. Fubara assures life’ll be better after phase of hardship
…Pleads with protesters to be peaceful
From Chris Eze, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reassured of sustaining the implementation of policies and programmes that would continue to make living better by the day for all residents in the State.
The Governor acknowledged the realities of the current harsh economic conditions that have necessitated the nationwide protest, but insisted that it would be for a short time, given the commitment of President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to secure a better future for all Nigerians.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance at the gates of Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday when he addressed a group of youths on #EndBadGovernance protest, who came to register their complaints over the growing economic hardship in the country.
The Rivers State governor thanked the youths for being peaceful with their protest so far, and urged them to ensure that they are not instigated by anybody to resort to violence.
He said, “So, like I said before, I want to thank you for being peaceful. I already know your problems, we will communicate them to the Federal Government.
“But you see, this particular protest that you are doing now, our only worry is that we know a lot of people are planning to take advantage of this protest to destroy our State. But, we will not allow it.
“Like I said, it is not easy, but we know quite alright that very soon, everything will be well. Starting from our own State, everything will be well. What we just need is for you to support the government and its policies. Implementing policies, at the beginning, it must be harsh, but at the end, everything will be fine,” he said.
Governor Fubara said his administration would stick to the tenets of good governance, take decisive actions to address the growing economic hardship in the State, and ensure that life is easy for the people.
He explained, “But, like I said yesterday, I am one of you. I feel your pain, and in our government here, we are doing everything to make life easy for our people.
“We are going to make sure that we make life easy for you. Our youths, I agree with you that there is hunger, but because we preach good governance, we are committed to make hunger disappear very soon.”
In interview with newsmen, Gov. Fubara reiterated his commitment to ensuring that there is continued peace despite the ongoing protest in the State.
He insisted that his administration will support the youths, and genuinely work for their well-being, but warned that it will not tolerate anybody that will use the protest to cause anarchy.
The Governor stated, “I am not against your protest, but we will not support any violent protest. We will not support anything that will destroy our State. We will not join forces with the enemy of progress (to destabilise our State).
“I know, maybe, some elements have taken it upon themselves to want to make governance difficult in our State, penetrating through this means to create additional problems. We won’t allow it.
“But if it has to do with the (peaceful) protesters, I don’t have any fears. Their demands are germane. I can understand them: hardship, bad governance, high cost of living, rent, medical bills. But we are coming from somewhere very bad. And we must start from somewhere to make things right.
“The initial policies, at the centre, might not be friendly but at the end of it, if we are patient and tolerant, there is no way the policies will not yield positive results and development for our State,” he assured.
Governor Fubara appealed to all residents in the State to be patient with President Tinubu to allow his policies to materialise and yield fruits for the good of all, and assured that his administration would not relent in continuing to attend to their basic needs while creating an atmosphere for economic prosperity for all.
