Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their continued trust in his administration, pledging to prioritize their well-being in all government decisions.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Rumuodumaya Fire Service Station, the third fire station inaugurated within a week, Fubara emphasized the government’s duty to protect lives and property. He assured residents that the facility would improve emergency response in Obio/Akpor and surrounding areas.

“We know that your trust is the right thing, and that you are standing on the side of truth. I want to assure you that we will continue to do what is right to make life better and advance the state,” Fubara stated.

The Governor highlighted that the station, alongside the newly launched Borokiri sub-station, is part of a larger plan to strengthen emergency response infrastructure across Rivers State.

Chief Hanny Woko, a key stakeholder from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, commended Fubara for delivering people-focused projects despite ongoing political tensions. He called for the governor, an Ijaw from Opobo, to be allowed to complete his tenure, citing the need for fairness after the Ikwerre ethnic group had held the governorship for 16 consecutive years.

“Equity and fair play demand that we allow our Ijaw brothers to serve their tenure. Be rest assured, Your Excellency, that you have the support of the Ikwerre people,” Woko said.

He also urged political actors to learn from Lagos State’s governance model and avoid conflicts that have kept Rivers State in the spotlight for negative reasons.

Providing project details, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Samuel Anya, revealed that the Rumuodumaya Fire Service Station had been abandoned since the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi. Fubara’s intervention led to its rehabilitation, equipping it with 54 offices, staff quarters, new fire trucks, and a 45,000-litre water tank for efficient firefighting services.

Chief Woko described the project as a crucial investment in public safety, warning that a state without a functional fire service is “partially a failed state.”

“In the heat of the crisis, you are still commissioning projects. This shows genuine leadership. Rivers people will protect this democracy and support you,” Woko assured the Governor.

Governor Fubara has continued to commission projects across Rivers State despite political tensions, reinforcing his administration’s focus on development and governance.