Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says there is no level of sabotage deliberately staged in some quarters that will make him to abandon his mandate.
Speaking during the combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers on Thursday, Fubara said he would not relinquish the mandate he received from the people to intimidation and blackmail.
The governor insisted that he would follow the path of peace, saying that needless crisis would not benefit the state.
Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to serve with humility, sincerity of purpose, and accountability.
"Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the governor," Fubara said.
"I assure you that I will not fail in this responsibility, nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail, and deliberate sabotage. I reaffirm my earlier statement and recommit myself to the path of peace as there is nothing to gain in a state of needless crisis."
Fubara said drastic measures would be taken to strengthen education, healthcare, and social services across the state including the rural areas.
He noted that the 2024 budget of the state would prioritize and provide sufficient funding to create universal access to affordable and quality education and healthcare services in Rivers.
"We will also take deliberate steps to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit among our teeming unemployed youths through viable initiatives on skills development, entrepreneurship training, and targeted investments in commercial agriculture," Fubara said.
The governor urged traditional rulers to be upright and royal fathers of integrity, who would not compromise their neutrality.
He also enjoined them to be courageous and speak truth to power so that they would not lose their moral authority and legitimacy before their people.
He said: "We must all be worried about the plight of our youths, especially those in rural communities, most of whom are poor, neglected, and almost forgotten in the government's development plans, policies, and actions.
"As we all know, no human society can progress without peace and security. I will therefore urge you to continue to work tirelessly for the preservation of peace and security to attract sustainable development to your communities."
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