Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has pledged to free the people of the state from what he describes as the “imprisonment of the mind” fostered by his predecessor’s administration.
This commitment was made at a thanksgiving rally organized by the SIMplified Movement in Ibaka, Okirika Local Government Area to celebrate his Supreme Court victory.
Speaking through Awajinombek Abiante, the member representing the Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency, Governor Fubara emphasized the oppression endured by the citizens under the past leadership.
“A reggae artiste named Lucky Dube once sang about the imprisonment of the mind; that song mirrors our pathetic situation in Rivers state today,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying.
Governor Fubara highlighted recent findings which revealed a “decay and shortage” of teachers, a problem he attributes not to his brief tenure but to years of neglect.
He accused previous government of deliberately avoiding educational development to keep the populace in ignorance and docility.
“They decided not to build schools because they want to imprison the minds of our people, to make us blind in loyalty and unable to ask questions,” he stated.
Declaring his administration’s proactive approach, Fubara said that steps had been taken to overhaul the educational system, including renovating schools and hiring more teachers.
“It is for this sake that this government has come to guarantee liberty and break the chains that have held us bound,” he declared.
The governor also noted ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the educational infrastructure, specifically mentioning the rehabilitation of Okirika Grammar School.
He expressed a commitment to responding to the needs of Rivers people quietly and efficiently, avoiding the theatrics often associated with politics.
Further endorsement came from Anderson Allison, an APC member representing Okirika/Ogu/Bolo, who commended the governor for his integrity and effective leadership since assuming office just ten months ago.
“The governor has been in office for just 10 months and has already achieved a lot without resorting to abuse; this is how a leader should behave,” Allison remarked.
