Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has made a renewed commitment to ending the cycle of violence that has long been associated with the state’s political landscape.
The governor’s pledge came on Tuesday during the reception of the report from the State Commission of Inquiry into the destruction of local government secretariats.
Governor Fubara emphasized his determination to implement the commission’s recommendations, regardless of who is implicated in the findings.
The report was presented by the commission’s chairman, Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri, at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, Governor Fubara expressed his commitment to ending what he termed “unreasonable violence in politics,” asserting that politics should be a platform for the exchange of ideas rather than a battleground of hostility.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that political contests are free from violence, where there are no permanent enemies or allies.
The governor commended the commission for its perseverance in completing the investigation, particularly in light of challenges such as legal battles and other attempts to obstruct their work.
Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri, the chair of the seven-member commission, outlined the approach used to compile the report. She highlighted visits to affected local government areas—Khana, Eleme, Ikwerre, Emohua, and Obio/Akpor—as essential in verifying claims made in the submitted memoranda.
According to Justice Minakiri, the commission’s findings uncovered significant, previously hidden details about the situation in the state.
The commission concluded its work on November 28, within the 30-day period set by the governor.
The report, which is presented in four volumes, includes memoranda, exhibits, records of proceedings, and key findings.
Justice Minakiri urged Governor Fubara to act on the recommendations outlined in the report, emphasizing that their implementation is critical to achieving lasting peace in Rivers State. She also noted that some individuals named in the memoranda had failed to appear before the commission to defend themselves.
