By Solomon OKPO
Port Harcourt, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has issued a stern warning to public officials and civil servants, urging them to uphold integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties. The governor emphasized that any breach of due process or involvement in illegality will attract consequences.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, Governor Fubara made it clear that his administration will not tolerate misconduct under any guise.
“Your punishment will come; just be prepared. I’m not interested in whatever was done,” he declared, underscoring his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on irregularities.
Fubara acknowledged that while certain lapses in the past may have been circumstantial, deliberate disregard for proper procedure will not be overlooked moving forward. He reiterated that accountability is a core principle of his leadership.
The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to merit-based appointments, stating that positions in his government are not granted based on loyalty, but on competence and ethical conduct.
“This appointment that you got today is because you choose to be a professional,” Fubara told a newly appointed permanent secretary during the interview. “I’ve never asked anyone working with me to please me. I always request that you do the right thing so that prosperity will judge you.”
He praised the appointee for resisting pressure to violate protocol and urged him to remain consistent, adding that public service must be grounded in fairness, transparency, and justice.
Governor Fubara further challenged officials to be courageous in upholding ethical standards, even in the face of unlawful directives.
“Even if I give you an instruction that is wrong, say no. That’s the way to build a strong system,” he said.
The governor’s remarks come at a time of heightened scrutiny of governance practices across the country, and reflect his administration’s push for a more accountable and professional civil service in Rivers State.
