Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has guaranteed that his administration will fully execute the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s recent decision on the political situation in the state.
Fubara emphasised that his top concern has always been the defence of the state’s interests, which must take precedence above any personal interests that anyone may hold and pursue.
On Tuesday, he provided the guarantee during the inauguration of the new Judges’ Quarters, a housing facility completed by his government for judges born or married in Rivers State, in Old GRA in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The governor 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.”
Fubara emphasised the financial cost of the political crisis on both sides, which could have been better spent on promoting the state’s well-being.
Fubara suggested that such efforts should be channelled towards more promising outcomes.
Fubara stated, “Thank God for where we are today. I can assure you publicly that, any day, any time, I have not gone back on 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, he emphasised that it demonstrates that his administration takes the issue of welfare, particularly that of judicial officers, seriously, explaining that his administration inherited the project and that, with reports from the Ministry of Justice and some concerns from the Judiciary, it became necessary to proceed with it.
Fubara 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.”
During the inauguration, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, emphasised the importance of maintaining the housing facility and premises to ensure maximum satisfaction.
The project was initiated by the previous administration on May 22, 2023, and Fubara was thanked for his continued support.
He added, “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 an owner-occupier basis or monetary grounds in lieu thereof.
“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.
“The Rivers State Government, in the past years, has been at the forefront in ensuring that judges are quartered while in service and, in recent years, has gone further to allocate official quarters to judges on the basis of owner-occupier or monetary grounds of a fixed sum in lieu thereof.
“The policy of providing official accommodation for judges on an owner-occupier basis or monetary grounds in lieu thereof has greatly reduced the pressure on judicial officers who hitherto struggled to build retirement homes while in service with limited resources. Such pressure and desire to own a retirement home in time past was a major concern and had its own impact on job performance.”
Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, explained in her address that the Rivers State Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers, Law No. 10 of 2021, established a housing scheme for judicial officers who must be Rivers State indigenes by birth or marriage.
Clapton-Ogolo said, “The scheme provides for ownership of a decent accommodation in the state by every judicial officer who is an indigene of Rivers State or married to an indigene of Rivers State or monetisation of the accommodation, subject to the approval of the government.
“In accordance with the above law, today, the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State will commission seven duplexes of five bedrooms, which are exquisitely furnished. Our judges deserve nothing less. I pray that these duplexes will not just be living houses for our judges, but homes where our judges will find peace and rest as they discharge their duties, as judges, to God and to men.”
