Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration has started the process of preparing the 2025 budget.
This is as the governor insisted that the seats of Martin Amaewhule and the other state lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress remain vacant.
Fubara stated that they will eventually return home because they desired it to be so when they voluntarily defected from the platform on which they won their election voluntarily.
The governor spoke when he received on solidarity visit opinion leaders, women, and youths of Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas led by Ogbakor Etche at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.
The governor urged the former lawmakers to wake up from their slumber to see the ship of governance in the state sailing on smoothly.
Fubara also said that his administration has started preparing details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, with priority placed on education, healthcare, and agriculture.
He said, “Let me assure you that agriculture is an area that we have promised the very special and peace-loving people of Rivers State that our 2025 budget, which we have already started preparing, will address.
“Don’t bother about those people who are delusional. They think we are still sleeping. Let me tell you people so that they can hear anywhere they are.
“I wanted to help them, sincerely because I know them. And I have said it before, these are people that I have helped. I paid their children’s school fees. I paid their house rent. So, I wanted to help them.
“We all knew what happened when they crossed (defected), and how did they cross? Because of our God, for them to make that mistake, they crossed! They are gone, and they are gone. Now, let me tell you: when I wanted to help them, I accepted to help them because we are all one. We disagree to agree as it is said.”
Fubara explained that the three priority areas that the 2025 budget will focus on will ensure that even if more roads are constructed, emphasis will be placed on providing quality healthcare services to keep the people healthy.
“Our children need to go to quality schools. Even if they can’t go to private schools, let them go to the public ones that have standards. We need to go to good health facilities owned by the government and get standard healthcare services.
“Even if we cannot afford those private hospitals, when you go to the public ones, you can get the same services with qualified professionals. That is our thinking.
“And when we get to the issue of agriculture, it will address the issue of unemployment. When we start engaging our youths, they won’t have time to be involved in crime. So, our thinking is to secure and protect our State,” he added.
He reiterated that his administration is not fighting anybody and will continue to show appreciation to those who have contributed to the good fortunes that he has received in life.
The governor, however, clarified that being loyal does not mean losing one’s liberty, sense of discretion, and what is right, which is why he will not be a governor forced on his knees.