Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to spend his time in office executing tenable programmes and delivering services that will both improve the quality of life of all residents and create lasting impact for posterity.

The Governor also urged wives of police officers to be deliberate in advising their husbands to continue to discharge their duties in a professional manner since it is the best way to defend the truth.

Governor Fubara gave the charge when he received in audience the National President of Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, who is also the wife of the Inspector-General of Police, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night.

Governor Fubara said there are self-styled adversaries against his administration who want to frustrate governance, and cause distraction with provocative acts that are intended to induce violence.

But Governor Fubara said: “As a government, I know that you know all the stories around us. But we will continue to do the best we can for our people.

“At the end of the day, what people want to see or what they want to hear is the mark that we have made. It is not the level of distraction that we have been faced or that is confronting us.

“It is the impact that we have made in governance that will count. So, we will make sure that we continue to do that, focusing on the ball.

“We know that we have started well; one day, it will end, and we will leave. So, because we know that we have decided to take the path of peace (we are happy).”

Governor Fubara enjoined wives of police officers to fervently pray for his administration, and ensure that they advise their husbands to continue to stand on the path of truth.

The task, he noted, might be very challenging for them, but it should not matter whose ox is gored, because it is only the truth that eventually will last forever.

Governor Fubara harped on the importance of building a good name that should reckon in history and serve as reflection of how well one has conducted himself in the service of the people.

He said: “When that name is mentioned somewhere, let people say, ooh, this is a good man. You won’t be there again to defend it but the name can make you pass through. The truth is that we are the head, but you are the neck that controls the head.

“So, help us, pray for Rivers State, intercede for us. There are places that we cannot reach, but our message today is going to those places. So, please, that is the request we are making as a government. We do not want any trouble, what we are doing here is governance.

“The Bible doesn’t make a mistake when it says ‘the sins of the fathers will come upon their children’. So, we should learn and work as professionals. This is very important.”

Governor Fubara acknowledged the lofty accomplishments of POWA and how the association has also supported widows among them with lifelines to cushion the burden of life challenges on them.

The Governor said: “I strongly believe that if the Commissioner of Police (CP) is not doing what is right, you won’t be here. It means, he is living up to his responsibility.

“Let me also commend the wife (of the commissioner) for finding the time and willing to also spend the resources. One thing is to have the time, and the other is to be willing to spend the resources to leave a landmark; something that the police in Rivers State will not forget in a hurry.

“It doesn’t matter how big, what is important is giving back to the society. And I am happy that one of the cardinal objectives of this body (POWA) is giving back to society.

“You might think that what you are doing is nothing, but it goes a long way to assure the police officers, their wives that even if they are no more, somebody is there to look out in their stead for their wives. So, I want to encourage you to continue to do that.

“On our own part as a government, I think from my own record, I have been giving so much support to this association. This is not the first time. I know ones or twice, they have written to me for something, and I have supported them. I support them because I am also from the military background.”

Governor Fubara, who commended the Commissioner of Police in the State for his sterling performance, urged him not to hesitate to bring to his knowledge areas of further support that POWA will require.

He added, “And I can say boldly here, our mummy, you can transmit this one: Disu has been very professional. Without Disu, this State would have been destroyed. I can tell you that without this man being professional, this State would have been destroyed. If they need a recommendation letter, let them come, I will give them.

“You’ve been a very wonderful officer. I need to say this, let it be on record: You found yourself in a very difficult situation, but you’ve been really balanced. So, I want to commend you for that. Continue to be balanced, don’t shift the balance. We will do everything to give you the support for you to succeed more.

“What is important, I keep saying, I want where my children’s name would be mentioned; they say Fubara, do you know so, so person, they say he is my father, the response will be ‘good, good’. That is the greatest legacy anyone can keep.”

In her speech, National President of the Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA) and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, said they are in Port Harcourt to officially open for use the POWA Shopping Complex that was built by the branch of the association in the State.

Mrs Egbetokun explained that it is their duty as leaders at the national headquarters to go round facilities and branches of the association to see what progress has been made or challenges faced by members, including windows.

She said, “We are here in this State. The chairperson here told us that she has built a POWA Shopping Complex. So, we are here to commission it, and by the special grace of God, we have done that this afternoon.

“And we are able to empower our women, those who need our support, and that is what we have done. But it is actually a tradition in POWA that whenever we are in a State, we like to visit the Governor, and let him know about our activities. That is why we are here this evening, Sir.”

Mrs Egbetokun expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his generosity and immense support not only to POWA in the State but also to officers of the command that has served as good motivation for them to carry out their duties.

National youth leaders, under the Forum of National Youth Leaders of all Political Parties in Nigeria( FNYLPPN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to do more in addressing the nation’s economic challenges.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, Chairman, FNYLPP, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, congratulated Nigeria on its 64th Independence Anniversary.

He said that the country had been through war and many other crises yet survived and would continue to thrive in unity.

Chukwu congratulated the nation’s heroes past, present heroes and future heroes.

He expressed confidence that the youths of Nigeria would do better than their predecessors.

“We appreciate our forerunners who fought for and achieved independence for us and the subsequent leaders who made sure that we remained independent and self-led.

“We are not where we want to be as a country but we are definitely not where we use to be and we are very confident that a better Nigeria is possible.

“However, we are aware of the crisis in the country and we are here to call on the president to do more.

“Dear President, we recognise and appreciate your efforts so far to help the country out of hardship especially among the young people; we are aware of all the programmes that you have put up to help the youths.

“We are also aware of the minimum wage  increment; we appreciate the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses you introduced and the CNG-powered tricycles for the youths.

“All these and more are geared towards alleviating the hardship in the country especially among the youths; we thank you in all of them.’’

Chukwu said that FNYLPPN was worried that if much was not done and in time, the hardship could worsen the insecurity in the country.

He commended Nigeria youths for their patience with the government.

“We are also calling on the youths to continue in their calmness: we beg that you give the president more time hoping that he will do the needful in a no distant time.

“We are also aware of all the efforts of the youths of Nigeria to see that the country works including putting their lives in line to protest and draw the attention of government.

“We are not insensitive to the plight of the youths in this country but for the sake of Nigeria; we are begging our youths again to eschew protests especially now that there is too much anger in town knowing that violence is inevitable.’’

Chukwu said the group was aware of the call for protests on Oct. 1 and urged the youths to be cautious so as not to worsen the problems they were trying to solve.

He said if protest must be held, it had to be peaceful and reasonable as there was need to give the government more time and support to address the issues.

“We, therefore, call on governments in all levels from councillorship to the presidency to invest in the programmes that will help, empower and equip the youths.

“This is because we shall be shifting our attention to other tiers of government beyond the president; we are also calling on the youths to consider political offices while we call on our leaders to give Nigerian youths the chance to lead for a better Nigeria.

“As a forum, we are assuring any youth of this country who will be courageous enough to vie for any political office of our total support,’’ he said.

A Rivers State High Court has ordered the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct elections on October 5 to elect democratically elected officials into the 23 Local Government Councils in the State.

The court, presided over by Justice I. P. C. Igwe, in Port Harcourt, gave the order in its final judgment on the matter in SUIT NO. PHC/2696/CS/2024, between the Action Peoples Party (APP) as claimant, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Government and Governor of Rivers State as defendants.

A certified true copy of the judgment, reads: :Upon this matter coming up before Honourable Justice I. P. C. Igwe sitting at High Court 14, Port Harcourt for Hearing and Determination and After Hearing A. E. Godswill Esq, for the Claimant, holding the brief of E. D. A. Ojoko Esq, and Lois C. Oko Jaja Esq, for the 1st Defendant, P. Enebeli, Assistant Director Ministry of Justice, appearing for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, it is hereby Ordered as follows: That upon the construction of Section 7 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are bound to make provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by Democratically elected Local Government Councils.’

The final court judgment also said, “That in view of Section 7 subsection 1, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 AS AMENDED, Section 5 (A) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law – No 2 of 2018, the Decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of Federation Vs Attorney-General of Abia State and 35 Ors and expiration of the tenure of the former democratically elected Local Government Councils in Rivers State on the 17th day of June, 2024, the Defendants are bound to conduct Election into the Local Government Councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time in order to comply with aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“That it is further declared chat in view of Section 5 (a) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No 2 of 2018, Section 9(1)(a) (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the exigencies of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of the Federation VS Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors, the 1st Defendant is entitled to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9(1)(a) (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, already in custody of the 1st Defendant to conduct Election into the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“That it is also declared that in view of the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria following the said Judgment in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024 Delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 to the effect that all states without Democratically elected Local Government Councils in place should conduct Elections into their respective Local Government Councils within three (3) months from the date of the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the defendants are bound to conduct elections into Local Government Councils in Rivers State on or before the expiration of the said three (3) months period, on the 5th day of October, 2024 and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Election, including sale of forms to candidates and their parties including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils”.

The court further said, “That an order of mandatory Injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 2nd and 3rd Defendant by themselves, or by their agents, privies, servants or representatives and proxies to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Council in Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are Conducted by Democratically Elected Local Government Councils.

“That it is further ordered that mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 1st Defendant to conduct election into Local Government Councils of Rivers State on the 5th Day of October, 2024 or on any other date fixed by the 1st Defendant in accordance with its Electoral Guidelines in order to comply with the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Elections including sale of forms to candidates and their parties, Including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils.

“That an order of mandatory injunction be and is hereby further issued directing or commanding the 1st Defendant to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9 (1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to conduct Election into the twenty-three (23) Local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“That the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Nigeria Army and all other Security Agencies and Paramilitary Organizations are hereby ordered to provide adequate security and ensure maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the Election”, the court ruled.