I resisted pressure to challenge the constitutionality of President Tinubu’s suspension of democratic institutions in the state, as well as all actions taken in the last six months by the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has said.
He spoke on Friday during his first statewide broadcast after resuming official duties at the government house in Port Harcourt.
His predecessor, Nyesom Wike, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and himself have all agreed to forget old issues and embrace peace in the best interest of Rivers State following the intervention of the president in brokering peace, he said.
According to him, the political crisis that once unsettled the state was now a thing of the past, and that peace and stability had returned to the state.
He said, “As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.
“This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions that we endured during this difficult period.
“In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully. Our Leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.”
He assured persons expressing genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainties over the nature of the peace process, to put same behind them.
He said: “However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness. We must all remember the saying, ‘the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war’.
“Accordingly, let us, therefore, embrace this moment as a fresh beginning. Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous Rivers State. I assure you that we will continuously work towards ensuring that we carry everyone along”.
He noted that his government is faced with immediate responsibility to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects it started and ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected.
He said he’s ready to work with the House of Assembly going forward.
Governor Fubara said: “I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State. I also renew my pledge to serve with the fear of God, humility and a high sense of duty”.
He advised the people of Rivers to draw strength from their shared identity, saying that their diversity remained their greatest asset, and their unity the strongest guarantee of their future.
He said, “We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies into rebuilding trust, fostering inclusiveness, and securing a peaceful and prosperous state for all”.
He thanked the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for committing to the prompt resolution of the political impasse in the state, and further commended the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen; and the distinguished members of the National Assembly for the role they all played in the resolution of the matter.
He also applauded the Speaker and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, respected elders, stakeholders and all concerned citizens for working together to resolve their differences and ensuring peace and harmony in the State.
