Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that it is more rewarding and eternally desirable for public office holders to demonstrate uprightness in their resolve to stand on the side of truth at all times.
Such attitude to their responsibilities, Governor Fubara noted, creates a greater sense of peace, trust and engenders wide-spread love within the society.
Governor Fubara made the remark shortly after Justice Stephens Dirialakeibama Jumbo was sworn-in as judge of the Rivers State High Court at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Governor charged the new judge to abide by his oath office and understand that so much is expected of him as he discharges his responsibilities not to the State Government alone but to the larger society.
“I do not know the reason why you were not sworn-in earlier. I also do not want to bother myself to try to know the reason. But what is important today is that God’s plan for you has come to fulfillment.
“So, you just read the oath here. What other charge am I supposed to give to you? I think that the greatest charge I can give to you is that I am not going to tell you to do any other thing. You just read it here yourself. Stand on the side of truth, defend the interest of our State. Not me, not Fubara, but the State.”
Governor Fubara emphasised that there is a purpose why God has given him and his team the opportunity to be on the saddle at this time, adding that it will be realised no matter what anybody does.
“I will never call any of you. I have not even done it before, to ask you to do what is wrong. But what we require from everybody, and you in particular, is to stand on the side of truth.
“This is so, so that tomorrow, even if you are asked why you took a certain decision, you can boldly say: I took the decision because it is the right thing to do.
“This way, even your children can walk in the streets of Port Harcourt without fear of what their father might or have done one time or the other while he was in position,” he said.
“Rivers State belongs to everyone of us. At this time in the history of this country, and in the history of this State, it is not a mistake that we found ourselves in this position. So, I am appealing to everybody: defend and support the integrity of our State,” the Governor added.
