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  • Appeal Court judgement: no cause for worry, says Fubara

    Appeal Court judgement: no cause for worry, says Fubara

    • Pro-governor’s lawmakers head for Supreme Court

    Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has broken his silence on  Thursday’s judgement that recognised Martins Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers as the Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly.

    The governor declared that there was no cause for worry, insisting that the worst was over and that God had prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies.

    He assured  that his administration would not waver in its commitment to providing critical infrastructure required for the speedy development of the state.

    Fubara spoke shortly after he inspected the ongoing reconstruction of the Zonal Hospital project at Bori Town, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area on Friday.

    The governor was accompanied on the inspection tour by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Victor Kii, while the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Council, Amb Marvin Yobana was on ground to receive the Governor and his team.

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    Fubara said: “I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. Government has its own challenges. If you go to the book of Psalm 23 verse 5, in the Bible, it said that God prepares a table before you; it can be before anybody. But there is an underlined word that should be noted there: it said ‘in the presence of your enemies’. So, it means that nothing comes easy.

    “I want to assure everyone of you and the good people of Rivers State, that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is.

    “But, like I said before, the worst is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our State.”

    Meanwhile, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers have confirmed the filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

    Oko-Jumbo insisted that he remained the Speaker of the state House of Assembly despite the Appeal Court judgement.

    He said they “strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine Suit no. PHC/1512/CS/2024”.

    He spoke while addressing his camp during a plenary at the temporary facility used for Legislative businesses in Port Harcourt on Friday.

     Oko-Jumbo declared that he remained the authentic Speaker because there could not be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State.

     Oko-Jumbo in a statement signed by Dr. Gillis West said that the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers remained vacant as declared by the then factional  speaker, Edison Ehie, on 13th December, 2023, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 11th day of December, 2023.

    He said: “There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly, with me as the Speaker, is the only House of Assembly in Rivers State.

    “As the whole world knows, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.

    “On the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA vacant. That declaration by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria.”

    Oko-Jumbo explained that the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly secured restraining order against Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others when they continued to parade as members of the RSHA despite their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC and their seats declared vacant.

    He said that because they felt dissatisfied with the rulings of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS had filed an Appeal No. CA/PH/198/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.

    Oko-Jumbo said: “Yesterday, the 4th of July, 2024, the Court of Appeal, in its lead Judgement, allowed the Appeal by Martin Ameawhule & 24 ORS on the ground that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

    “Accordingly, the Court of Appeal struck out Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024 and NOTHING MORE. The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS did not defect from the PDP to APC.

    “The Court of Appeal also did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 ORS are still members of the RSHA.”

     Oko-Jumbo added: “We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024.

     “Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th Day of July, 2024.

     “Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS, in spite of all their pretences, are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and they remain so until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise.

     “Once again, we the legitimate members of the RSHA HEREBY call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seats in the RSHA.

     “We strongly urge the general public to ignore Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS in their pretence that they are members of the RSHA,” he added.

     During the plenary, the Oko-Jumbo-led considered two bills, opened debate, and moved them through first reading.

  • Rivers judgement: Fubara breaks silence, says no cause for worry

    Rivers judgement: Fubara breaks silence, says no cause for worry

    Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has broken his silence on the Thursday judgement that recognised Martins Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers as the speaker and members of the state House of Assembly.

    The governor declared that there was no cause for worry, insisting that the worst was over and that God had prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies.

    He assured that his administration would not waver in its commitment to providing critical infrastructure required for the speedy development of the state.

    Fubara spoke shortly after he inspected the ongoing reconstruction of the Zonal Hospital project at Bori Town, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area on Friday.

    The governor was accompanied on the inspection tour by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, and the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Victor Kii, while the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Council, Amb Marvin Yobana was on the ground to receive the Governor and his team.

    Fubara said: “I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. The government has its own challenges. If you go to the book of Psalm 23 verse 5, in the Bible, it says that God prepares a table before you; it can be before anybody. But there is an underlined word that should be noted here: it said ‘in the presence of your enemies’. So, it means that nothing comes easy.

    “I want to assure every one of you and the good people of Rivers State, that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is.

    “But, like I said before, the worst is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our State.”

    Read Also: Rivers crisis: Fubara’s deputy walks a tightrope

    Fubara in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, pointed to sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture as top priority areas that his administration would not compromise attention, on and would do everything possible to ensure optimal services can be accessed by the people.

    He said: “We are here today. I believe that from next week, we should be visiting Degema, Ahoada, and Omoku, and also ensure that we visit the site of the Modern General and Psychiatric Hospitals in Rumuigbo to see the extent of work that is going on.

    “But for now, we are satisfied with what we are seeing here. When we say: zonal hospital, this project is not just for the people of Khana. It is not just for the people of Gokana, even my own constituency, Opobo/Nkoro will also benefit from this facility.

    “So, we are assuring the good people of this senatorial district that we will make sure that we put it to completion and good use,” he added.

    Fubara explained that his administration did not meet any functional zonal hospital, stressing that because it wanted quality healthcare facilities for the people, funds were released about a month ago for the reconstruction and expansion of four zonal hospitals.

    The governor expressed satisfaction that the contractors appeared really committed and had shown that they understood the dream and aspirations of his administration and were aligning to help it fulfill promises to the people.

    He said: “You could remember that I did promise our people that one of the most important areas our budget for the year 2025 will focus on is healthcare, education, and agriculture.

    “As part of what we did promise our people in the year 2024, that all the Zonal Hospitals, we will do our best to ensure that they come up and are put to use, we are here to inspect the extent of work that is ongoing.

    “When we met them (hospitals), their conditions were really bad. There was no accommodation for the medical officers, the doctors, the nurses, and we also added a mortuary to have a full package of what a hospital should be.”

    The governor assured that when completed and put to use, the facilities would meet the healthcare needs of the people within the catchment areas, and address key issues in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and policy objectives of his administration.

  • Rivers leaders fault Fubara’s allegation of state of emergency

    Rivers leaders fault Fubara’s allegation of state of emergency

    Elders under the auspices of the Rivers Leaders Forum (RLF) have faulted the allegation of the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara, that a purported dynamite’s explosion close to the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt was designed to entrench the call for a state of emergency in Rivers.

    The leaders said the governor lied describing his position as “misinformation” and “deliberate efforts” to undermine the state’s peace and security.

    The leaders explained that a peaceful march was held in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in solidarity with a former Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike and to express gratitude to the police for maintaining peace despite provocative actions by the governor.

    Reading the position of the elders, Senator Olaka Nwogu, said the designated route of the march in Obio-Akpo had nothing to do with the location of the Presidential Hotel.

    Nwogu said: These allegations, once again, are consistent with a pattern of misinformation and deliberate efforts of H.E. Sim Fubara to undermine the peace and security of the state under his watch.

    “First, and for records, the people of Obio/Akpor local government area undertook a peace match beginning from Rumueme Civic Centre along Ikwerre Road and ending at Peoples Club along Rumuola Road.

    “This is a route that did not include the Hotel Presidential, to show solidarity with the most successful Governor Rivers State ever had, now Minister of FCT, H.E. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and to express faith in his reserved conduct despite his being betrayed, maligned, misrepresented and daily insulted by Governor Sim Fubara and his supporters.

    “The people of Obio/Akpor also expressed gratitude to the police for keeping the peace despite provocative actions of the governor in illegally inaugurating Caretaker Committees for the local government councils contrary to the law; a situation that has stirred up much public disaffection and threat to peace.

    “To be clear on the matter of the explosion at Hotel Presidential, there was no incident at the hotel associated with the Peace march as the routes for the march are completely different from the location of Hotel Presidential.

    “It’s only the governor and Rivers State Government that knew that there were Senators (guests) in Rivers State and we believe he and his team went ahead and planted a fake explosive detonator to act drama in other to cry wolf.

    “Is the governor or His Commissioner for Health the police detectives or any other security agent that they are the only people who heard an explosion and also arrested the so-called culprit at Rivers State Government-owned hospital? Please let the Police do their job.”

    Nwogu added: “It is a common knowledge that at the spurious allegation that the State Assembly was to impeach the governor, the Assembly Complex was bombed and now to be rebuilt at an exorbitant cost of N19bn against an estimate of N9bn from the Rivers State Ministry of Works.

    “The same style he adopted when Assembly was bombed. He accused Wike and quickly claimed the state was investigating and would arrest and prosecute the culprits. Till today have any of you heard anything about the report of the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex?

    “Governor Sim Fubara said ‘he is not fighting anybody’ yet he told the world that ‘Jungle has matured’. We are aware that the governor plays the victim when in fact he is the aggressor manipulating everybody to his bidding and blaming others for the failed outcomes”.

    Another leader and former Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke wondered when a peaceful protest had become a call for a state of emergency recalling that since October 2023 till date, the governor had been sponsoring over 100 protests in the state.

    He said: “On the 12th of December, 2023 a coalition of youths of Ijaw ethnic nationalities embarked on a solidary visit to Governor Sim. On December 17, 2023, the members representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru and Andoni Federal Constituencies led a protest for Governor Sim

    “On December 23, 2023, Group Concern Youths stormed Government House urging the governor to discontinue the Presidential Peace Proclamation. On the 22nd of February, 2024 some group of women under simplified Rivers women for Sim matched the streets of Port Harcourt for Governor Sim.

    Read Also: JUST IN: PDP has failed us, says Fubara

    “On the 3rd of April, 2024, another group from NULGE extraction was in Government House we can go on and on.

    “Further on the local government imbroglio, the Governor needed only three months to call for elections to forestall the current tension in the state. He has been in the office for over a year.

    “The President directed that elections be conducted by forbidding the use of Caretaker Committees in his eight-point Peace Plan, yet Governor Sim preferred to cause mayhem by setting up these Caretaker Committees with the support of non-state actors despite the President Peace Plan, despite the Court of Appeal, despite the Constitution, now he is afraid of State of Emergency.

    “He should realize that his office is a creation of law and only adherence and obedience to Law can keep his office. They insisted that the march did not involve a failed attempt to blow up Hotel Presidential, as alleged by the governor”.

  • JUST IN: PDP has failed us, says Fubara

    JUST IN: PDP has failed us, says Fubara

    Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the state.

    The governor said that Rivers was currently relying on a mass movement based on truth and consistency instead of party politics.

    The governor spoke while receiving a delegation from the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, at Government House in Port Harcourt.

    He said the state would no longer be held back by party affiliation, but would instead stand firm on its own soil to defend democracy.

    Read Also: Politics of bitterness destroying Rivers, says Fubara

     Fubara said: “In our state today we are no longer doing party. We are doing a movement, so you don’t blame me if I don’t go to the side of the party too much.

    “The party has failed us here, so what we are doing here is to stand with our two legs on the soil of Rivers State, so that we can defend democracy.”

    An endless political war between Fubara and his estranged benefactor, Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has enveloped Rivers.

    The crisis escalated following the collapse of the peace deal President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brokered for the warring parties.

    The governor was reportedly disappointed at the silence of his party on the crisis.

  • Politics of bitterness destroying Rivers, says Fubara

    Politics of bitterness destroying Rivers, says Fubara

    Politics of bitterness is destroying Rivers State,  Governor Siminalayi Fubara said yesterday.

    The governor, who spoke on the attempted bombing in the state, said it was a plot to justify and strengthen the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.

    Fubara expressed anger over the protracted crisis in the state when he received the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, and the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours, led by Nnolim Nnaji, in Port-Harcourt,  the state capital.

    He warned politicians against becoming willing tools in the hands of detractors bent on  undermining the peace, economic growth prospects of the state.

    Port-Harcourt was thrown into panic, following an attempt by a suspect to detonate an explosive device near the state-owned Presidential Hotel during a protest.

    The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh,alerted the public and private medical facilities in the state to look out for a suspect with a blast injury.

    The police immediately launched a manhunt for the masterminds of the explosion.

    The state government later announced that it had located the suspected bomber in an undisclosed part of the city.

    Rivers State has been seized by a protracted political crisis, following the rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The crisis had escalated after the expiration of tge tenure of council chairmen and inauguration of the local government caretaker committees by the governor.

    Currently, the police have taken over the local government secretariats, pending the resolution of the case on tenure.

    Politics of bitterness destructive,  says Fubara

    Fubara lamented what he described as the destructive effects of politics of bitterness on the state.

    He alleged that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the Hotel Presidential was a deliberate plot to strengthen the call for an emergency rule in the state.

    The governor accused the pro-Wike supporters of carrying out the plot, describing them as  haters, who wanted to undermine the state to achieve their evil plans.

    He said youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for the extension of tenure of former local government chairmen, whose statutory three-year term had expired.

    Fubara said the protesters and their sponsors were aware that some members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, alleging that they attempted to detonate an explosive device near the facility to justify the rcall for a state of emergency at the plenary.

    He said: “As a matter of fact, let me tell you. I know of everything that is happening. Yesterday (Tuesday), they (protesters) were aware that you are in the state. So, there was an attempt to create a serious problem.

    “In fact, there was a plan to detonate dynamite at the Hotel Presidential because you people were there. But this God that we serve, it happened that the man who was trying to do it, detonated it, but just few seconds after, it blew his hands off.

    “The idea was that as you were hearing state of emergency, it will be so that by the time they finish, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow (Thursday), the debate will be from somebody from this state who called you people to tell you not to come.

    “He will now raise the issue of a state of emergency, and say after all, distinguished colleagues saw it happen while you were in Rivers State, that you saw what happened.

    “But you see, when you are with God, even your own child who is planning evil, will go and tell somebody that, God is with this man because he is clean, this is what my father is planning. That is what is keeping us in this state.”

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    The governor said the law was silent or inactive to take its course over offenders because somebody appeared to be bigger than the law.

    He insisted that there was nowhere in the country where tenure elongation for former local government chairmen had been an issue.

    Fubara, who maintained that he was not fighting anybody, said he was defending the state against predators, and protecting supporters of the interest of Rivers against those, who felt they owned the lives of others.

    He said there was no governor in the country, who could take 10 percent of the abuse heaped on him by former council chairmen.

    Fubara said he took the insults and attacks in his strides without being hard on the purveyors because their plan was to distract him.

    He said he had remained focused on delivering good governance and democratic dividends to the people.

    Fubara said: “Where on earth can the tenure of local government chairmen be elongated? You were a former governor, was it tried in your time? Even those of you that are senators here, even in your own states, has anyone tried this before?

    “Is it that the constitution that governs Nigeria is different from the one that operates in Rivers State? These are the very pertinent questions we should ask.

    “Why should it be that when it comes to the case of Rivers State, the law is always silent? Is it that there is somebody bigger than Nigeria? That is the question I want you to go back with.

    “I tell you, we know everything that is happening, and you know it, everybody knows it. We should be bold enough to look at the face of people and tell them the truth.

    “I am not fighting anybody. If I am fighting, people will know that I am fighting; my pattern will change. What we are doing is to defend ourselves. We can’t just fold our hands. Only a tree will be standing and somebody will come and cut it off.

    “It doesn’t happen as a human being. If you know that danger is coming, you shift. What we are doing is just to protect ourselves. So, Distinguished Senators, I am not fighting anybody.

    “Somebody thinks or some people feel they own life. I don’t own life. The person who own life is God. What we are doing here is to serve the people of Rivers State because God has given us this opportunity.

    “It doesn’t matter the channel the opportunity came from. But the most important thing is God, and nobody takes the place of God in anything.”

    The governor urged the senators to consider the interest of Rivers as they recommend the privatisation and commercialisation of public companies, adding that when the state buys stakes in the companies, it can be protected and supervised to be viable.

  • In defence of Fubara, the man of peace

    In defence of Fubara, the man of peace

    I sympathise with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. He has been going through stress and strain since his confrontation with his estranged godfather. Despite boasting that he rose to become Accountant General of Rivers State, his detractors have continued to insist that nothing prepared him for the high position he today occupies. He has also been accused of lacking character or what Aristotle described as ‘balance between passion and caution of political actors, a virtue without which democracy is nothing but the tyranny of the majority. For this reason he is said to be unfit to become the custodian of participatory democracy.

    But why should Fubara be made the scapegoat for anti-democratic tendencies of Nigerian politicians? In any case, we have been told that democracy was a new value system embraced by Nigerian new inheritors of power even when democratic institutions it needed to thrive were at formative stages. But even beyond this, it was obvious our new inheritors of power after independence embraced democracy only as a means to an end and not necessarily because they had faith in the democratic system.

    And there is nowhere else this has been expressly demonstrated than among Fubara’s illustrious political forebears of the Niger Delta region. Successive Niger Delta governors from Alfred Diette-Spiff who was governor at 25, found on the high seas cruising with friends in his private ship during 1975 Murtala Obasanjo coup, through Diepreye Alamieseigha, who escaped to Nigeria from London dressed like a woman while facing money laundering charges, Peter Odili, shielded from prosecution for corruption by Nigerian judicial pronouncement, James Ibori who  served jail terms in London for defrauding his Delta State through Rotimi Amaechi and the private jet scandal and Nyesom Wike who according to Prof Itse Sagay rode to government house on the dead bodies of his people, the vicious battle has always been about self-preservation.

    Although he has also been accused of stabbing his benefactor on the back as well as deploying strong-arm tactics and self-help tactics, a euphemism for anarchy in his confrontation with his estranged godfather as if those were not  celebrated virtues his predecessors. I cannot therefore see what Governor Fubara has done differently from his illustrious forebears. He is not the author of self-help tactics. He was not the first to deploy strong –arm tactics in the quest for self- preservation. And he was not the first to falsely swear in the name of Rivers people during their struggle for power.

    Read Also: Rivers youths march to police headquarters in anti-CTC protest

     The Yoruba say that you don’t begrudge a man for resembling his father. Fubara is a true son of his political fathers. Amaechi betrayed Odili his godfather. Wike, the faithful ally, trusted chief of staff and enforcer of Amaechi’s self-help tactics betrayed Amaechi. Fubara also betrayed Wike. It is all family affairs. Although Amaechi and Wike, both belong to Ikwere clan, the former from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA and the later from Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor council.  That did not stop their fierce Trans-Amadi Road battle of November 11, 2016 during which both resorted to self-help tactics. Speaking of the battle, Simeon Nwakaudu, who claimed Wike was attacked while on project inspection had said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.”

    Giving their own narrative, Amaechi’s spokesman had also said “Suddenly, gun-toting security men attached to Wike’s convoy surrounded the minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, “The Rivers governor and his troops physically assaulted by slapping and bruising the policemen…the governor made away with the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji”.

    Some of Fubara detractors have also criticized him for leading a solidarity rally made up of jobless youths and errant elders to the torched state House of Assembly before ordering its demolition.  With all the elected Local Council chairmen lining behind Wike and 25 of the 28 House of Assembly declaring their loyalty to him, Fubara only decided to borrow a leave from Amaechi’s playbook.

    It is on record that Amaechi led the invasion of the Rivers State of Assembly when, five members of Rivers House of Assembly swearing in the name of President Jonathan’s wife, impeached the House speaker supported by the majority of members. Amaechi took charge of the police and his thugs who not only rescued his caged loyal lawmakers but also pummelled the five opposition lawmakers to stupor leading to Okey Chindah, having to be flown abroad by PDP for medical treatment.

    From the above, it is difficult to disagree with those who claim Fubara is a man of peace. For instance after Wike’s outburst that he had directed Fubara to ‘‘Do this, do this, do this, do this’, and you agreed before Mr. President and you did not do it”, Fubara, many have argued, could have stopped Wike from coming to mobilise his thugs in Port Harcourt.

    But instead, Fubara, only reminded Wike in case he has forgotten: “I am now in power even if it was by mistake”. It was not until he was threatened with impeachment that he descended to the level of his godfathers with his loyalists the torching of the assembly complex on October 29, 2023 and leading a mob to declare the assembly sick before ordering its demolition.

    To demonstrate he is a successful graduate of Wike’s school of political intrigue and subterfuge, Fubara refused to represent the budget earlier approved by three suspended loyal state lawmakers even after the warring 25 state legislators withdrew their impeachment threat.

    And Fubara, the man of peace, capitalizing on the threat by the 25 lawmakers of Rivers State of Assembly to decamp to APC (the court has since ruled they are not members of APC), Fubara’s three loyal members of the House declared the seats of the 25 majority vacant and got the judiciary to uphold their action.  The same three-man legislature that vetted his budget, screened his new cabinet members also screened his newly appointed Local Council chairmen who were sworn in last week. The method may be different but the goal is the same- self-preservation.

    The Ijaw elders have denounced Fubara’s attempt to position Wike as enemies of Ijaws.  But I don’t think anyone should blame this man of peace for attempting to exploit ethnic sentiments as part of war strategy against his estranged godfather. Let us remember that the roads to power by both Amaechi and Wike were paved with appeal to ethnic sentiments.

    It is on record that when Governor Amaechi was accused of betraying Niger Delta by not supporting President Jonathan’s re-election bid, his shrill cry was “They have taken our oil wells from Etche; they have taken our oil wells from Kalabari; they have taken our oil wells from Andoni and they are battling to take over those in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. We are losing our oil wells every day; …Part of the problems were facing now is that we are fighting to protect our oil wells.”

    And similarly when in 2016, Itse Sagay alleged “Wike climbed to the governorship seat over dead bodies”, Wike who called Sagay a frustrated intellectual because “APC was not allowed to overrun the state and loot its treasury dry” also admitted through his information commissioner that he “had urged on his people to defend their right to freely choose their leaders with their blood”.

    Fubara, the man of peace, while avoiding the violent rough road trodden by his godfathers, is driven by no less self-serving objective- self-preservation.

  • Politics of bitterness destroying Rivers, says Fubara

    Politics of bitterness destroying Rivers, says Fubara

    Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has lamented the destructive effects of politics of bitterness on the state.

    The governor warned politicians to be circumspect with their politicking activities in order not to deliberately use them to undermine peace, and economic growth prospects of the state and the nation at large.

    Fubara gave the advice when he received a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours, led by its chairman, Nnolim Nnaji, on a visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    A statement signed by Fubara’s chief press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said the delegation was in Rivers to conduct oversight functions at the Port Harcourt, Onne Sea Ports and Bonny channels.

    Fubara said the seaports remained essential facilities that would contribute to harvesting the rich gains of the blue economy, adding that those, who were delighted to see them inactive and moribund did not mean well for the state and the country.

    The governor said: “About nine years ago, if you understand the calculation; somebody here was the senior Minister of Transport, and nothing happened at our ports. Every progress that was supported to come to the Sea Ports here, because of bitter politics was stopped. That is why our ports are moribund today.

    “Today, after another eight years, which this other person suffered, we have entered into another similar era. If you love this State, it is normal to support everything that will bring progress and development to this state.

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    “It is not about who is sitting here today. It is about the State. If the State continues to go down, what is the interest? The only reason why we are struggling is because of the allocation.

    “The only reason why we are struggling is to make sure that you have control of the treasury. But the treasury will also get fat if the seaports are working. Revenue will increase. Your expansion plan will also become large with internal revenue.

    “So, I want everybody to understand that politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere. It is only a thing that will lead you to an early grave because once joy is taken away from a man’s life, it is anger, and anger leads to the destruction of souls.

    “So, please, for those of you who took this bold decision to come to see us and to make this possible, we want to thank you and assure you that no matter what it takes, we will not take the path of bitter politics.”

    Fubara insisted that politics should be rightly situated as a game with a winner to emerge at any particular time and the unlucky ones should not indulge in acts to destroy the system.

    The governor told members of the committee that his administration was determined to give the requisite support that would lead to a total revamp of all the seaports and Blue Sea commercial channels in the state.

    The governor said when the reports of the committee were made public, his administration would note the recommendations and ensure that they were implemented.

    He also berated those labelling the state as crisis-ridden and concorted from the figment of their imagination.

    He insisted that Rivers remained peaceful, safe and on the move to actualise more development, adding that nothing could happen, which would be worse than the October 30, 2023 event in the state.

    In his speech, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours, Nnolim Nnaji said the visit to the governor was part of the familiarisation visit and to conduct oversight functions of the Port Harcourt Ports, Onne Ports and the Bonny Channel.

    He stated that considering the importance of Rivers to the economy of Nigeria, they decided to visit Rivers State first.

    He said: “We also use the opportunity to encourage the State to support the programme of ports because we believe that the new programme on Blue Economy will attract trillions of dollars when fully invested in.

    “So, we are happy that we are here and we believe that Rivers State plays a major role in the Port programme. We want to also let you know that we as a committee, are doing everything possible to support the upgrading of Port Harcourt and Onne Ports. In our budget, we are also doing a lot to see how we can support the Bonny Channels.”

  • Fubara, Kwankwaso and leadership crisis

    Fubara, Kwankwaso and leadership crisis

    In both Kano and Rivers States, the causes of their political and administrative unrest are still being unravelled and litigated. It is unlikely the litigations will last more than a few more months, or even weeks. But the governors of the two states, Abba Kabir Yusuf and Siminalayi Fubara respectively, and their backers are unwilling to wait much longer. Despite enjoying the fruit of democracy, they have nevertheless indicated their preference for strong-arm tactics. Both governors are enraged by the audacity of the opposition. In Kano, Mallam Yusuf and his main backer, Kwankwasiyya Movement leader and ex-governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who hovers over the governor like an apparition, are determined much more than anything else to efface the memory of Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor and current All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman. The governor and Mallam Kwankwaso are driven by and obsessed with vengeance.

    The conflict in Rivers State is only a little different from Kano. While Kano is prepossessed with vengeance, Rivers is haunted by what Governor Fubara and his supporters have described as their emancipation struggle. They wish to be rid of the pernicious influence of former governor and FCT minister Nyesom Wike. In the case of Kano, ex-governor Ganduje was unable to foist his party’s candidate, Nasir Gawuna, on the state. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Kwankwasiyya Movement appears determined to obliterate his memory from the state. Kano is probably the closest approximation to a civic culture in Nigeria. Had Mallam Gawuna won, the state would not be in the throes of conflict as it is currently experiencing. But the struggle in Rivers has left many people truly bewildered. Mr Wike rammed the heedless Mr Fubara down the throats of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state’s longsuffering electorate, clearly without knowing who he really was. Nothing qualified him for both the post and the job, except that he sounded, looked and acted loyal and apolitical. That he fooled Mr Wike so effectively and comprehensively is a testament to the former governor’s lack of depth and capacity in judging character.

    Read Also: APC slams PDP, dispels alleged plot to forcefully take over Rivers

    Kano’s Kwankwasiyya were combative from the outset. Once the governorship crown settled around Mallam Yusuf’s ears, the movement embarked on a demolition spree, instigated a legislative amendment to reclaim the Kano Emirate from the quarters where Mallam Ganduje sequestered it, and appointed verbal pugilists who gave the APC chairman as much as he dared to voice. Rivers’ case began with a few tremors here and there; but soon, the reticent Mr Fubara began to convulse and consternate his foes, determined to be his own man sooner rather than later. He took his benefactor by surprise. Believing him to be as tame as he looked, the Wike crowd hurled a few disdainful and bellicose words at him. Unsure whether the governor’s initial unflappability was out of fear or his stoical disposition, they soon threatened him with impeachment. The sum of all the happenings in the state is that the parliament building was torched and then demolished, and the legislature balkanised. Worse, the state is now ethnically divided in such a manner that healing would take ages, if at all. On top of these, the consequent litigations launched to resolve the crisis have been snarled in the courts. If Kwankwasiyya are unprepared to give Mallam Ganduje any quarter, Mr Fubara and his supporters are even more prepared to move mountains to hang Mr Wike literally and figuratively.

    The conflicts and litigations in Kano and Rivers sadly indicate the poverty of leadership in Nigeria, and the decades of inattention paid the important subject of leadership recruitment and succession. Not one of the combatants in the troubled states exemplifies sound leadership. Governors Fubara and Yusuf show contempt for the rule of law, with both of them not only eager to demolish anything that irritates them, including buildings that stand in their way, they would not mind even instigating a revolution to wipe out their enemies or put the whole country at risk. It is alarming. Kano has been a little more wary of instigating street protests and actions; but Rivers’ Mr Fubara has recklessly procured the services of local toughs, whether they are militants or trade unions. Apart from speaking violence and defiance, he has harboured suspects wanted by the police. His chief-of-staff and former factional speaker of the state legislature, Edison Ehie, was even on the streets marshalling agitation and whipping up bitterness and resentment against Mr Wike and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. Meanwhile the suits filed to resolve the impasse are only days or weeks away from final resolution. But they cannot wait. Kano’s Mallam Yusuf has not been as abrasive and extreme, but he has equally been provocative. On Thursday, Kano’s Justice commissioner, Haruna Dederi, took the liberty of interpreting the Federal High Court ruling on the case in a way that suited the liberal postulations of the state government, insisting that since the court refused to pronounce on the merit of last month’s Emirate repeal law which restored the Kano Emirate to one unified whole instead of five, it underscored and validated the government’s position. It was time to demolish the Nasarawa palace occupied by the deposed emir Ado Bayero, he added grimly and apocalyptically.

    Farther down South, Mr Fubara is impatient to let the law take its course. He embraces a three-man legislature that vets his budget and screens his cabinet and local government caretaker chairmen. His men, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, also went to court to get the seats of Hon. Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers declared vacant. The State High Court obliged them, but the Court of Appeal, to which the 25 lawmakers have made recourse, is yet to pronounce on the case, having reserved judgement until sometime later. Meanwhile, Mr Fubara has disregarded the tenure extension granted elected LGA chairmen by the legislature and has appointed new caretaker chairmen, whom he swore in last Wednesday, giving rise to a totally new set of crisis on top of the existing crises in the state. All the cases seem destined to end up in the Supreme Court, but they are unlikely to take long in resolution. It would be a hallmark of democracy and rule of law, were the governor to exercise a little more patience until the courts exhaust themselves. But having framed the Rivers imbroglio wholly and exclusively in terms of Mr Wike’s intransigence and desire to run the state from behind the curtain, Mr Fubara has rallied a vocal and vehement group of Riverians behind his banner willing to use strong-arm tactics to force the former governor’s capitulation and humiliation.  

    It is not certain that Kano State’s Mallam Yusuf and Mallam Kwankwaso will have their way. If they do, it will be because their animus against Mallam Ganduje, not to say the reunification of Kano Emirate, is popular. This column has no interest in validating the positions of the two contesting groups in the Kano conflict. It is also not clear that Mr Fubara will have his way in unseating the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. But if he does, it may be because the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have aligned their interpretation of the law with his position. Whatever the courts decide for both riotous states will be the position of the law, and should settle the crises. But one thing is without controversy: both Kano and Rivers governors have demonstrated inept leadership, and those who sponsored their enthronement, including Mr Wike and Mallam Kwankwaso, are poor judges of character. Worse, all of them have demonstrated a lack of altruism without the redeeming virtue of knowing the littlest thing about leadership. Kano and Rivers are of course not isolated cases in Nigeria. It will take more than democracy and elections to produce the kind of leaders the country needs, if Nigeria is not to be continually assailed by the tomfooleries of Mr Fubara and Mallam Yusuf. The problem is not whether Mallam Kwankwaso or Mallam Ganduje is right or wrong, or whether Mr Fubara is humble and Mr Wike proud and meddlesome. The tragedy is that these gentlemen have no business in leadership, let alone governing states and becoming custodians of democracy.    

  • Rivers crisis: Fubara sacks traditional rulers’ council chair

    Rivers crisis: Fubara sacks traditional rulers’ council chair

    • Lists sins of Wike appointee Awuse; names Wodo as replacement
    • Ex-LG chiefs reject gov’s pay off, insist on remaining in office
    • NULGE to police: vacate our premises, our work suffering setback

    Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked  Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, who was appointed by his estranged predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.

    The governor announced the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the new Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers accusing Awuse of inactivity and absence of effective leadership of the council under him.

    Fubara spoke at a special meeting he had with members of the council at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), said Eze Chike Worlu Wodo is the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

    The governor terminated the appointment of Awuse, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, saying he failed to steer the affairs of the council aright, and unable to promote cordial relationship among members and with the state government within his one year in office.

    Fubara said under Eze Sergeant Awuse, the council produced a calendar for the year 2024, and insulted the state government by deliberately refusing to include the photographs of the governor and the deputy governor.

    He said such posture, among others, clearly demonstrated that the council under that kind of leadership, had not, and would never live up to expectations.

    He said: “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because, maybe, the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it.

    “I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect.

    “I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture, and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar.

    “I want to ask you: does it show any sign that, that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it? Does it show that your chairman is working with this government?

    “So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested on me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.”

    Fubara said, at such critical time of his administration when peace was cardinal with traditional rulers,  if not properly coordinated, it would be difficult to achieve the required harmony and coexistence among the people.

    The governor pointed out that there was a need to have a more competent and diligent traditional ruler with the presence of mind, and ability to carry everybody along.

    He stressed that Eze Chike Worlu Wodo most appropriately fitted into the cap, with a fatherly personality, mature character, integrity and pedigree.

    Fubara clarified that Eze Apara Kingdom could also access every traditional ruler, elicit their cooperation and be able to provide the needed direction for the  council.

    He said: “So, going forward, there is need to have a leadership that will accommodate everybody and move this council forward.

    “Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I believe strongly that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone.

    “Traditional Rulers are the closest to our locals. If you want peace in the community, we must work with the traditional rulers. And our government is a government that pays serious priority to peace. So, I want everyone of you to ensure that we maintain peace in our localities.

    “Let me request from our new chairman that: please, as we leave here, there is every need for you to call for meeting immediately and commence the process of uniting the council.”

    Fubara recalled how a former governor in the state sternly warned a traditional ruler in Ahoada East Local Government Area during a public event but added that he would not take that route.

    Instead, the governor said that his approach would be, as a respecter of elders, rather appeal to all traditional rulers to ensure cooperation with the state government.

    Fubara said: “It is such cooperation that would ensure the peace in your domains, notwithstanding your political inclinations, and will foster a stronger and united Rivers State.

    “I am not bothered or interested in your political affiliations, but when it comes to issues of the council, that should bring you together, your decision should and must flow in the direction of government.

    “If you are doing anything outside, that is your own, but you cannot, I repeat that when it comes to the issues of the council, government has given you recognition to belong, you cannot go against the government, it’s very wrong.

    “You can be in whatever it is, but when it comes to our own interest as a State and Government, you must work with our interest. I remember when we went to Ahoada-East, in Ekpeye land to perform an activity, a former Governor openly threatened one of you, and warned that if you try it, I will do this, I will do that.

    “But I am not going to warn any of you because you are our fathers. I will appeal to you to please give us all the necessary support and cooperation so that we can have a united state that everyone of us will be proud of.

    Read Also:Fubara replaces Rivers Traditional Rulers Council chairman Sergeant Awuse

    “Let me appeal to everyone of us, today is an opportunity that God has provided to Eze Chike Worlu Wodo. Tomorrow, it can be any other person’s. You need to give him the respect. You need to give him the support to succeed; so that when it comes to your turn, that same measure will be given to you.”

    Fubara assured of addressing the issues of making available official vehicles to the traditional rulers, and other allowances due them soonest.

    The governor also urged the new chairman to commence the process of updating the record of all First Class, Second Class and Third Class traditional rulers in the State, and make it available to his office next Tuesday.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, said he was overwhelmed with joy for the opportunity to serve the State in such capability.

    Eze Wodo pledged that he would foster unity, devote his time and energy to the assignment given to him, and work in synergy with every member of the council to ensure that there was peace within their various domains.

    Meanwhile, the Rivers State local government chairmen, who were sacked from their offices following tenure expiration controversies have continued to protest their displacement.

    The ousted chairmen under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State chapter, insisted that they remained the authentic chairmen pending the determination of their case in the court.

    In their position document signed by ALGON’s Chairman, Sir. Allwell Ihunda and Secretary, Obarilomate Ollor, the displaced chairmen referred to the caretaker committee members as impostors and usurpers.

    They rejected the gesture of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, that the caretaker committee chairmen should immediately pay their emoluments and allowances.

    They said: “We wish to state categorically that we reject the planned payment of our emoluments and allowances by these usurpers, who claim to be caretaker committee for local governments in Rivers State because caretaker committees are unconstitutional, unlawful and unknown to the Rivers State Local Government Law.Also, the matter of the expiration and or otherwise of our tenure of office as democratically elected local government chairmen is the subject matter of pending litigation before the court and therefore subjudiced.

    “We will, therefore, not accept the poisoned chalice of a purported payment of outstanding emoluments and allowances as directed by the governor until such a time when the courts have considered and resolved the legal issues between us and the governor of Rivers State.”

    The ALGON members said they found it rather curious and absurd that the same governor, who had been withholding their allocations including emoluments and allowances was the same person appointing caretaker committees, releasing funds to the committees to pay them off.

    They accused the governor of playing politics with governance and allowing his personal political interest to influence his official conduct and decisions.

    “This is inimical to the smooth running of the democratic process instituted under the Nigerian constitution and contrary to the specific oath of office which he swore between God and man.”

    They insisted that the governor was impeding the smooth running of the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils by withholding their funds, refusing to call for the conduct of local government elections and appointing illegal caretaker.

    The ousted chairmen said they were ready for the call made by Fubara insinuating that he wanted to probe local government accounts.

    They said: “We are happy to say that such a probe will be a welcome development at this time because it will not only afford the democratically elected council chairmen the opportunity of rendering accounts of their financial dealings under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara but will also enable the governor to testify as the principal witness of the chairmen during the probe as to his roles and involvement with local government funds, which he withheld and tampered with at will.”

    They further warned banks against having financial dealings with the caretaker committees appointed by Fubara pending court pronouncement on the tenure crisis.

    They said: “While we await the planned probe exercise, we want to use this medium to call on various bankers of the 23 local government councils of Rivers State to respect the court process and refrain from dealing with the impostors, who call themselves caretaker committees because they are an aberration unknown to the Constitution of Nigeria and the Local Government Laws of Rivers State.

    “We also call on the well-meaning youths and people of Rivers State to remain calm as we keep fate with the due process of the rule of law for in the fullness of time, sanity, normalcy and order shall be restored to the administration of local government in Rivers State”.

    Investigations on Friday revealed that all the local government secretariats were still shut as the police continued to deny the newly inaugurated caretaker committee members access to them.

    Since the police takeover of the secretariats, the local government workers had been on compulsory holiday with the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) fuming at the development.

    The Chairman of NULGE lamented that the police takeover of the secretariats had denied them their traditional work environment.

    He said there was no way the local government employees could work outside their secretariats and called on the police to vacate their work areas.

    He said: “We are giving the police Monday, as deadline to remove all the barricades to the secretariats. We have not been going to work and we cannot work outside our secretariats.

    “I cannot quantify what we are losing. What I am saying is that they should leave our premises so that we can access the facilities. We cannot work outside local government secretariats. None of the councils are working. Our workers cannot go to work. They must vacate the place”.

  • Fubara replaces Rivers Traditional Rulers Council chairman Sergeant Awuse

    Fubara replaces Rivers Traditional Rulers Council chairman Sergeant Awuse

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has removed Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, who was appointed by his estranged predecessor Nyesom Wike as Chairman of the Rivers Traditional Rulers Council.

    The Governor announced the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the new Chairman of Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers accusing Awuse of inactivity and absence of effective leadership of the council under him.

    Fubara spoke at a special meeting with members of the council at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    A statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) said Eze Chike Worlu Wodo is the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State. 

    The Governor terminated the appointment of Awuse, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, saying he failed to steer the affairs of the council aright and unable to promote cordial relationship among members and with the State Government within his one year in office.

     Fubara said under Eze Sergeant Awuse, the council produced a calendar for the year 2024, and insulted the State Government by deliberately refusing to include the photographs of the Governor and Deputy Governor.

    He said such posture, among others, clearly demonstrated that the council under that kind of leadership had not, and would never live up to expectations.

    Read Also: Human rights group calls for neutrality of Police in Rivers, security interventions

    He said: “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because, maybe, the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it.

    “I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect.

    “I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture, and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar. 

    “I want to ask you: does it show any sign that, that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it? Does it show that your chairman is working with this government?

    “So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested on me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.”

     Fubara said, at such critical time of his administration, when peace was cardinal with traditional rulers,  not properly coordinated, it would be difficult to achieve the required harmony and coexistence among the people.

    The Governor pointed out that there was need to have a more competent and diligent traditional ruler with the presence of mind, and ability to carry everybody along.

    He stressed that Eze Chike Worlu Wodo most appropriately fitted into the cap, with a fatherly personality, mature character, integrity and pedigree.

    Fubara clarified that Eze Apara Kingdom could also access every traditional ruler, elicit their cooperation and be able to provide the needed direction for the  council.

    He said: “So, going forward, there is need to have a leadership that will accommodate everybody and move this council forward.

    “Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I believe strongly that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone.

    “Traditional Rulers are the closest to our locals. If you want peace in the community, we must work with the traditional rulers. And our government is a government that pays serious priority to peace. So, I want everyone of you to ensure that we maintain peace in our localities.

    “Let me request from our new chairman that: please, as we leave here, there is every need for you to call for meeting immediately and commence the process of uniting the council.”

    Fubara recalled how a former Governor sternly warned a traditional ruler in Ahoada East Local Government Area during a public event but added that he would not take that route.

    Instead, the Governor said that his approach would be, as a respecter of elders, rather appeal to all traditional rulers to ensure cooperation with the state government.

    Fubara said: “It is such cooperation that would  ensure the peace in your domains, notwithstanding your political inclinations, and will foster a stronger and united Rivers State.

    “I am not bothered or interested in your political affiliations, but when it comes to issues of the council, that should bring you together, your decision should and must flow in the direction of government. 

    “If you are doing anything outside, that is your own, but you cannot, I repeat that when it comes to the issues of the council, government has given you recognition to belong, you cannot go against the government, it’s very wrong. 

    “You can be in whatever it is, but when it comes to our own interest as a State and Government, you must work with our interest. I remember when we went to Ahoada-East, in Ekpeye land to perform an activity, a former Governor openly threatened one of you, and warned that if you try it, I will do this, I will do that. 

    “But I am not going to warn any of you because you are our fathers. I will appeal to you to please give us all the necessary support and cooperation so that we can have a united State that everyone of us will be proud of.

    “Let me appeal to everyone of us, today is an opportunity that God has provided to Eze Chike Worlu Wodo. Tomorrow, it can be any other person’s. You need to give him the respect. You need to give him the support to succeed; so that when it comes to your turn, that same measure will be given to you.”

     Fubara assured of addressing the issues of making available official vehicles to the traditional rulers, and other allowances due them soonest. 

    The Governor also urged the new chairman to commence the process of updating the record of all First Class, Second Class and Third Class traditional rulers in the State, and make it available to his office next Tuesday.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, said he was overwhelmed with joy for the opportunity to serve the State in such capability.

    Eze Wodo pledged that he would foster unity, devote his time and energy to the assignment given to him, and work in synergy with every member of the council to ensure that there was peace within their various domains.

    He also assured the readiness of the council to synergise with the State Government to maintain peace and harmony in the communities so as to fast track the development of the entire State.