Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says peace has prevailed because he resisted insults and tantrums hurled at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons bent on throwing the state into unending crisis.
The Governor added that because he has anchored his administration on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Fubara stated this while receiving a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, quoted Fubara as saying while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced a harmonious atmosphere of concord as the people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
The Governor who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, stated, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now the Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of Peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
He urged delegation, as members of the Christian family in the state, to continue to pray for the state and the government so that the enemies of the state would be put to total shame.
He added, “This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came from Eleme Junction and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.
“I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the governor’s peace posture misunderstood as a weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restraint does not just come. It can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace if you do not have peace within you. The governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State.”
Leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
Ogbonda said, “It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of the truth, every one of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals needs peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State.”