•As Obong Of Calabar Inaugurates Eze Oha Apara Palace
Emmanuel Abi Couson
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that he is not of the stock of politicians who exclude communities or a whole local government area from the dividends of democracy because of sheer political disagreement.
Governor Fubara made the remarks at the formal inauguration of Eze Oha Apara Palace for His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, the Paramount Ruler of Ekinigbo and Eze Oha Apara IV in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Thursday.
Eze Wodo, who is the chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, also led other prominent Ikwerre traditional rulers to confer on Governor Fubara the traditional title of Enwa Gbaga Nu Ohna (The moon that shines in Ikwerre land).
The Governor stated that his political mindset appreciates the fact that while disagreements cannot be avoided, denying any section of the State requisite public amenities or government support cannot be reckoned with him because it is public fund that will be spent on Rivers people to better their lives.
He was speaking in response to insinuations in some quarters about his generous execution of projects in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, given the fierce political antagonism staged against him by some political leaders.
Governor Fubara said: “Like they said, if it were in other cases, I wouldn’t be interested. No, no, no. I don’t play politics that way. He’s our chairman, he’s from Rivers State, and whatever we are doing, it is not my personal fund; it is the resources of the State. We should apply it for the betterment of our State.
“The only thing I will ask you in return is: continue to support this administration. Be law- abiding. That is the only way we can get more progress and development into your communities. No matter the level of provocation, try to control your temper. We don’t use fight to resolve fight. You use peace, apply it well using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) method to defeat troublemakers.”
Governor Fubara expressed delight to have accomplished the palace for the good people of Apara Kingdom, which stands as a proof of the recognition and respect shown to the traditional institution in the State, and described the palace as a beautiful symbol of the respectable status that kings of the State should have to hold their place of pride among their peers.
He noted, “Like the Senator said, we came here, and we saw that this place was still under construction, and we felt if our chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers should have an event and invite his contemporaries from other states, he doesn’t need to bring them to Government House, he needs to have a befitting palace.
“We know what happens in other places. When you are having meetings of traditional rulers, and you go to other states, you see wonderful palaces of the Traditional Rulers. So, I think it is right for us to start beautifying our traditional rulers so that people will see them and take them seriously. So, what we are doing today is adding another feather to the Eze Oha Apara, feather by having a befitting palace.”
Governor Fubara said his administration is also constructing for the people of Obio/Akpor, an ultra-modern General Hospital, which will be the first in the area; an upgraded Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital that will enable the State tackle mental health-related challenges, and explained that his administration is building and furnishing a palace for the Akpor King and his people, which will be inaugurated soon.
He said, “So, chairman, as we inaugurate this wonderful palace, we are not ending it here. We want to make sure that because of the support that I can feel here, all the bad roads here, we are going to reconstruct them. So, it is an addition to what we are doing here today. You can feel our love for you in several ways. We are building a general hospital for you, which you don’t have, you know it. We are also upgrading the Psychiatric Hospital to a modern one that can stand the challenges that are ahead of us.
“We are not just ending there, you know, we are building a palace. Maybe, by the special grace of God, by February next year, we will be going to inaugurate it for His Royal Majesty of Akpor. It is a show of love and the importance that I personally attach to the Obio/Akpor people.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will continue to address their socio-economic needs while they continue to support his administration, and charged the people to protect the palace because it is now a communal legacy that will be used by successive royal fathers.
Performing the project inauguration, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, the Obong of Calabar, natural ruler, treaty king and grand patriarch of the Erik Kingdom, said Governor Fubara has distinguished himself with such identifiable gesture done for the traditional institution, stressing, “This is what we expect of successive administrations to realise that they are running a relay race to develop the institution where they find themselves at any given time. Your Excellency, you have done well, and I must say, we are proud of you.
“Today, I am glad to be here to commission this palace which is a physical manifestation of your goodwill, respect and good intention for the traditional institutions.”
His Eminence urged other governors and political officials to emulate what Governor Fubara has done for the traditional institution, and be desirous in providing people-oriented projects to their people.
He said: “I don’t intend to descend into the political arena. However, as a father, I must stand with the truth and show solidarity with you during this turbulent time. There has been a lot of political rumblings in Rivers State, but I will stick to and re-emphasize the fact, which is that you are the Executive Governor of Rivers State, a mandate freely, willingly, peacefully and resoundingly given to you, no other person, but you by the people of Rivers State. Do not let them distract you. Shut out the noise, and focus on delivering the dividends of democracy to the generality of the good people of Rivers State, who, combined together, are your employers and your boss”.
Chairman of the Building Committee, Senator John Azuta Mbata, said the entire palace complex comprises of the main palace with 8 bedrooms and 3 sitting rooms, the people’s hall with 500-capacity main hall, and 3 meeting rooms, adding that there is a VIP Hall with spaces to attend to daily activities of the king, and a Guest House with two units of one bedroom, and four units of suite apartment for VIP visitors.
In his welcome address, Chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Amb Chijioke Ihunwo, thanked Governor Fubara for building and furnishing a royal palace for the Apara people and their king, a gesture they did not get from their son as a Governor, noting that it is heart-touching to know that Governor Fubara was also building a befitting palace for the Akpor King and people.
