By: Paul Deeyah
16th June, 2023
There was this proverb my mother used to tell me each time I became inquisitive about something. She will say why drag the boat when the river is approaching. Allow the River to reach the boat and the boat will naturally float and then you can take it to wherever you want.
Of recent some people in this state have been attempting to drag the boat when the river is still flowing.
They are quick to criticize.
They do not have the patience of allowing one to complete what he has to do before complaining.
They questioned or criticized every action not minding whether it is good or bad.
The last few weeks of the administration of Sir Siminialayi Fubara had witnessed unsolicited and unwarranted and willful criticisms by detractors of the administration.
Every day they are on the radio and other social media platforms criticizing and condemning every action or decision of government without taking a deeper and critical look at the positive sides of such actions and decisions .
Not long ago, Governor Siminialayi Fubara sent the names of 5 persons to be appointed as Commissioners in his cabinet to the House of Assembly.
This action of Governor Fubara attracted barrage of criticisms from some retrogressive minds in the state.
The bone of contention according to them is that the list contains some old members of the Wike’s cabinet.
This kind of criticism is baseless, blind and certainly uncalled for because more appointments are yet to be made.
To engage in such a hollow and negative sentiments simply because the list contains names of some old cabinet members is to say the least very disturbing and unfortunate.
It is disturbing because as an inner circle member of the former administration, Governor Sim Fubara knew the capacity of all those who served in that administration.
And ike one whose ultimate aim is to succeed, nothing stops him from bringing in some members of the immediate past government who in his own wisdom could bring their wealth of experience and tact to the success of his new administration.
Remember, government is a continum and it’s cabinet is liken to a football team in which its good players are hardly changed.
Governor Sim Fubara certainly needs the services of old hands who had helped in driving the wheels of the last administration towards achieving the level of successes it did.
Need I remind you that the Governor has nominated only 9 persons to be part of his cabinet .
There are still rooms for more appointments. So why the rush to condemn.
For me I think there is absolutely no need for the hullabaloo and cacophony that had greeted these appointments.
Governor Fubara is a man who knows his onions.
He knows that no cabinet can comprise of only new faces.
It must have a mixture of both the old and new.
For example, George Akume and Femi Gbajabiamila who are Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, respectively are not new persons,.
They have been part of the Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
So there is certainly no need to criticize the inclusion of old faces in the new cabinet of Sim Fubara.
Governor Sim Fubara’s actions and decisions are for the best interest of the people of the State and the smooth running of the government.
Sim Fubara is not someone known for too much talk but plenty of action.
These actions have been clearly displayed in some of the things he has done so far.
In the last few days of his administration, Rivers people can attest to the fact that indeed Sim Fubara is a man of action.
He is determined to keep Rivers State working. He has said time and time again that all ongoing projects initiated by the past administration of Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike must be completed.
That is why he is on the road day in day out, keeping Contractors on their toes to ensure that they complete projects awarded to them on schedule and according to specifications. Sim Fubara does not believe in sitting in the comfort of his office to dish out orders, he believes in going to assess them himself.
Just the other day, the Governor was at the Dental Maxillofacial and Opthalmology Hospital and Dr. Kelsey Harrison Hospital , both in Port Harcourt to assess the level of work done on these key projects.
He also visited the Ogoni -Andoni-Opobo unity road started by the Dr Peter Odili’s administration many years ago to also see the extent of work so far done on the road project.
The governor was not satisfied with what he saw, and as one in a hurry to walk his talk of continuing with the development trajectory of his predecessor, he did not mince words as he ordered the immediate revocation of the contract following his dissatisfaction with the level of work done on the road even with the contract sum fully paid by the immediate past government.
Governor Fubara has a no nonsense approach to issues.
That was why he ordered that the contract be reawarded to a more qualified and serious minded contractor.
This is exactly what is expected of a man who means we’ll for his citizens .
Sim Fubara is actually exhibitig his true inate attributes of less talk and more action.
He will not allow anyone to stand in the way of his consolidation and continuity blueprint but see to it’s successful implementation.
The Governor had signed a social contract with Rivers people; the contract of a better life for all.
He would not allow anyone to derail that contract.
For Rivers people, especially those who never knew the Governor before now, and had doubted his competence, they can now see that the man is adequately equiped with the arts of governance and he is exhibiting them one by one.
They are now becoming more convinced that we have a man who has the capability and capacity to perform.
And like he had repeatedly stated, his mission to consolidate; that is to complete all projects started by his predecessor before continuing with new ones is very well on course .
It must be supported to achieve the desired success.
The Governor’s visit to the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road is another one of the first good steps of a dancer who would do a good dance .
Sim Fubara has taken the first right steps and the people of the State, particularly those of Andoni extraction are happy with him.
They are happy that Sim Fubara is prepared to remove the jinx that never allowed the completion of the project almost two decades of its inception .
He is determined to remove that impediment so that Andoni people can drive to their homes atleast within the first one hundred days of his administration.
This is very laudable and speaks volumes of a man who is desirous of developing all parts of the State.
All we need do therefore is to support and encourage him, rather than throw tantrums of baseless attacks and criticism, because it is not good to drag the boat when the river is still flowing.
Paul Deeyah, Journalist/Writer and former Director News, Radio Rivers, writes from Port Harcourt.
