By Deborah Nnamdi
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has pledged that his administration will fully execute the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the political crisis in the state.
Fubara emphasized that his primary focus has always been safeguarding the state’s interests, which must take precedence over any personal interests that may be advocated by individuals.
He gave the assurance on Tuesday during the inauguration of the new Judges’ Quarters, a housing facility completed by his administration for Judges indigenous to Rivers State by birth or marriage.
The governor said “It has not been an easy 16 months, but what is important is the interest of our State, which must be above our interest.
“I want to say it here, very loud and clear to everyone, the Supreme Court has given a judgment, and my administration is going to implement the judgment to its fullest. The reason is clear: It is not about me, it is about the good of this State.”
Fubara alluded to the quantum of loss, in terms of money expended, in prosecuting the political crisis, on both sides, which has gone to waste, regrettably.
Such financial resources and other efforts, he said, would be more profitable if they were synergized and channeled to courses that promoted the genuine well-being and good of the state, adding that something more assuring would have been showcased.
Fubara stated, “Thank God where we are today, I can assure you publicly that, any day, any time, I have not gone back on my statement: that nothing (no price) is too big to pay for peace in this State, because, at the end of the day, it is about our people. It is not about me; I will leave office, but the good work that I have done will speak for me and will defend my generation.”
He said, “We give glory to God that today, we have completed this project, and we are willing and ready to hand it over to the lucky judges who are going to live here so that they can perform their duties effectively.”
Performing the inauguration, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, said: “We are pleased with this landmark achievement, which represents the continuation of the policy of providing befitting residential accommodation for judges of Rivers State on the owner-occupier basis or monetary ground in lieu there-off.
“This is backed by the Rivers State Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers Law No. 10 of 2021 passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed into law by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State.
In her address, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, explained that the Rivers State Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers, Law No. 10 of 2021 established a housing scheme for judicial officers who must be indigenes of Rivers State either by birth or marriage.
“By the above law, today, the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State will commission seven duplexes of five bedrooms, which are exquisitely furnished. Our judges deserve nothing less. I pray that these duplexes will not just be a living house for our judges, but homes where our judges will find peace and rest as they discharge their duties, as judges, to God and men.”
