The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has stated that politics should not only focus on securing support from followers but also address the genuine need of people.
He urged politicians to utilize politics as a tool for the broader development of the people.
The Governor stated this during the inauguration of Okocha Road and Spurs in Rumuolumeni Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, on Tuesday.
In his address, Fubara argued that politics should be about meeting the needs of the people.
He insisted that it is the responsibility of the government to put smiles on people’s faces.
According to him, “Politics is not just about who is with you or who is against you. It is equally about meeting the needs of the citizens.
“If I were an evil person, I would have avoided this place considering its location and conditions, but it is our duty in government to provide services, protect lives and property. It’s not about me; it’s about the government’s responsibility to put smiles on the faces of our people.”
Providing context for the project, Fubara noted that after the Presidential Election in 2023, there was a pressing need to alleviate anxieties among supporters in the area to secure favourable votes for his governorship bid.
He explained, “We had to do everything to ensure a comfortable environment for our election. The people of this community, mainly non-indigenes with a significant voting strength, supported us and saw reasons to back our cause.
“What I am doing here today is a simple ‘thank you’ for believing in us, for standing by us.”
The governor assured that his administration would address other requests made on behalf of the community, including rehabilitating other dilapidated streets to make them motorable.