We Will Defend Rivers Against Predators, Says Fubara

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has assured that his state will be defending all forms of predators, adding that he is not fighting anybody.

Fubara said this in Port Harcourt when the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation paid him a courtesy visit.

Fubara stated, “I am, rather, defending the state against predators; I am protecting Rivers against those who feel that they own the life of others."

Fubara stated that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a state of emergency.

“It is the handiwork of detractors who want to undermine the state to achieve their evil plans,” he declared.

The governor alleged that some youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for extension of tenure for former local government chairmen who had served out their statutory three-year tenure.

“The protesters and their sponsors were aware that some members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, which was their reason for the attempt to detonate an explosive device near the facility.

“There was a plan to detonate dynamite at the Hotel Presidential because you people were there. But, this God that we serve, it happened that the man, who was trying to do it, detonated it, but just few seconds later, it blew his hands off.

“The idea was that as you were hearing the state of emergency, by the time they finish, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow, the debate will be from somebody from this state who called you people to tell you not to come.”

Fubara wondered why the law was silent or slow to take its course over offenders because somebody appeared to be bigger than the law.

Fubara told members of the committee to factor in the interest of Rivers as they recommend the privatisation and commercialisation of public companies, saying that when the state buys stakes in such companies, they could be protected and supervised to be viable.

“I will also appeal to you that in this process of privatisation, anything that has to do with our own state here that needs to be privatised, the Rivers Government will be interested.

Orji Uzo Kalu, the chairman of the committee, said the team was in Rivers to oversee some projects that fell under its jurisdiction. 
Kalu, the senatorial district representative for Abia North, praised Fubara for his commitment to providing high-quality government and his love of peace. 

He also gave him credit for maintaining his pace in creating the ideal environment for economic expansion. 

In order to promote peace in Rivers, Kalu pleaded with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to sheathe the sword and summon his allies.