I will defend justice in Rivers with my last breath – Fubara

Siminialayi Fubara, govenor of Rivers, says he will defend justice in the state with his last breath.

Fubara spoke in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, on Thursday at the 2024/2025 legal year service held at the Anglican Communion.

The governor stressed the need to build strong institutions to curb the influence of politicians and individuals on the state.

“What we are praying for in this country is institutional strength and not individual strength. Institutional strength is the only thing that will bring development to this country,” Fubara said.

“If I am a businessman and I am coming into Nigeria to invest, why will I invest when what I am seeing today is that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than institutions?

“This state belongs to all of us. It is not about Fubara today. If this institution is destroyed, when another person comes in tomorrow, it is the same thing that will happen.

“We need to stand and defend it. And you are the right people to do it. I am here today to assure you that even if I have my last breath, I will defend the cause of justice in this state.”

Fubara advised the judges in the state against allowing their judgment to be influenced by politicians, adding that justice must be upheld at all times.

“Some of you — you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your paymasters to turn the law upside down,” he said.

“We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the state. It is within the jurisdiction of the state high court.

“It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC or the police. It is a state matter. I am not a lawyer, but I know that one. And you stand and say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you.”

“Let me say it here so that you will understand: Judges, you are the God that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.

“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The preacher said it, every evil done in the course of administering justice, you will pay for it dearly.”

Rivers has been enduring a political crisis in the past months.

Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and immediate former governor of Rivers, are locked in a supremacy battle over the control of the political structure in the state.