- Niger Delta leaders visit Wike, condemn plot to impeach gov
- Rivers youths seek redeployment of police officers
Rivers State governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the political crisis that rocked the state last week saying it led to quick resolution of the matter.
Fubara in a statement he personally signed at the weekend titled, ‘Peace is Priceless’, described Tinubu’s role in the dispute as fatherly.
He said: “I wish to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his fatherly intervention which opened a series of communication channels to facilitate the timely resolution of the festering crisis. I wish to also thank our elders, who are currently intervening in the matter.”
Fubara, who described himself as a man of peace, said his roles in all the events were designed to ensure the stability and progress of the state.
Narrating the events, he said: “I consider it necessary to issue this press statement on the developments of the past few days in our dear state.
“Late on Sunday night, 29th October 2023, I was inundated with reports that the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly had been gutted by fire. The blaze was successfully put out by the fire service after which security agencies took control of the situation.
“My visit to the Assembly complex on Monday, 30th October 2023, was to assess the level of damage and undertake remedial measures to protect lives and property within the Assembly complex. I charged the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and report to me.
“Shortly after, I got reports that the State House of Assembly had broken into two factions: one claiming to have impeached and suspended the house leader and three others preparatory to initiating an impeachment action against me, and the other rival faction impeaching the speaker and deputy speaker, thus sparking off some form of political crisis.
“Let me clearly state that my actions are aimed at restoring peace and stability in our state. I am a man of peace and as governor, the advancement of our state is my primary concern. Consequently, no sacrifice is too much for me to make to achieve this objective.”
The governor said it remained the collective responsibility of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and himself to leverage their positions to advance the progress of the state.
He said: “Furthermore, it is the collective responsibility of the immediate past Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Chief Barrister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, GSSRS, Life Bencher and my humble self, to leverage our positions and influences within and outside the state to advance the progress, security and well-being of our people.
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“We must therefore not allow circumstances that could retard all efforts at achieving greatness for our people to prevail. On my part, I am always willing and ready to embrace the path to lasting peace and tranquility with a commitment to consummating all efforts and initiatives by Mr. President and other well-meaning Nigerians, including my brother governors and the elders.
Fubara apologised to Rivers people over the tension that gripped the state describing it as regrettable.
He said: “I assure the good people and youths of Rivers State, that peace will certainly prevail and we shall continue to work together to advance the peace, security, progress and development of our state.
“As governor, I sincerely apologise to the good people of Rivers State for the regrettable anxieties of the last few days, while thanking you all for your concerns, and continued support, love, and prayers”.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the Niger Delta yesterday paid a solidarity visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike for further reconciliations between him and Governor Fubara.
A statement by Dr Kingsley Kuku yesterday, said the Niger Delta leaders paid the visit to convey the region’s appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for including Wike in his cabinet and to congratulate the minister on his appointment.
On current political developments in Rivers, the leaders noted that the state was strategic to the South-South region and could not afford to be in crisis.
“As Lagos State is very dear to the South West, so is Rivers State to the Niger Delta. This is because as an injury to one is an injury to all, we feel justified to condemn the macabre dance playing out there.
“We join PANDEF, INC, IYC, MOSIEND, MOSOP, Ogbakor Ikwerre and all other responsible bodies in the Niger Delta in condemning the mischievous attempts at the State House of Assembly to impeach the State Governor on frivolous grounds of ‘gross misconduct’.
“It is quite unacceptable to us and to the entire Niger Delta. Any person, authority or group of persons involved in stoking this fire is strongly advised to desist from it and allow peace to reign,” the statement said.
The statement noted that as a political leader in Rivers, Wike wields the influence to broker peace as both the executive and legislature consist of his political proteges.
However, a coalition of youths from Rivers State under the auspices of the Rivers Liberation Coalition of NGOs, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy the police officers including the state Commissioner of Police following their alleged complicity in the attack on the state Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the youths condemned the attempt to impeach the governor and said the police commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioner, Operations, should be shown their way out of the state.
The youths said they could no longer watch from the sidelines acts of intimidation against Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
