"WE'LL COMPLY WITH SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT ON RIVERS POLITICAL CRISIS", GOV FUBARA ASSURES

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will implement to the fullest the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the political crisis in the State. Governor Fubara said that the most important thing in all that has been happening in Rivers State is the protection of the interest of Rivers people, which he said must rank above all personal interests. The Governor gave the assurance during the inauguration of the newly built Judges' Quarters within the Old GRA in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. The housing facility, which was started by the immediate past administration under Governor Nyesom Wike, and completed by the current administration, is meant to provide houses for judges who are indigenous to Rivers State by birth or marriage. He explained: "It has not been an easy 16 months, but what is important is the interest of our State, which must be above our personal interest. I want to say it here, very loud and clear to everyone, the Supreme Court has given a judgement, my administration is going to implement the judgement to its fullest. The reason is clear: It is not about me, it is about the good of this State." Governor Fubara lamented the quantum of loss to the state, in terms of money expended on both sides in prosecuting the political crisis, saying it was regrettable that all had gone to waste. He said the huge financial resources and other efforts would have been more profitable, if harnessed and channelled towards courses that are meant to promote the genuine well-being of the State, adding that something more assuring would have been showcased. Governor Fubara stated: "Thank God where we are today, I can assure you publicly that, any day, any time, I have not gone back on that 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." Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara emphasised that it further shows that his administration takes the issue of welfare, particularly of judicial officers, seriously, explaining that his administration inherited the project and with reports from the Ministry of Justice and some concerns from the Judiciary, it became imperative to continue with it. 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." Governor Fubara pointed to the need for proper maintenance of the housing facility and the entire premises so that it can offer required satisfaction, maximally, and assured the Executive's readiness to provide support in that regard. In his remarks while performing the inauguration of the Judges’ Quarters, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, recalled how he laid the foundation stone of the project on May 22, 2023, and thanked Governor Fubara for completing it. "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 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” Justice Amadi explained. The State Chief Judge further noted that: "The policy of providing official accommodation for judges on owner-occupier basis or monetary ground in lieu there-off has reduced greatly the pressure on judicial officers who hitherto struggle to build retirement home while in service with limited resources. Such pressure and desire to own retirement home in time past was a major concern and have its own impact on job performance".