…says ‘we’ll face this situation with wisdom’
Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, broke his silence on the state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night.
He blamed the the current situation in Rivers State on the members of the state House of Assembly loyal to his estranged godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Fubara however assured that the situation will be handled with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.
The suspended governor said although there was a political disagreement in the state, it did not affect governance.
On Tuesday night, President Tinubu announced the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and the state Assembly members on and appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd), as the Administrator of the state for a period of six months.
Tinubu justified his action on the perennial political crisis in the state which took a dangerous dimension on Tuesday with the bombing of two oil pipelines by suspected militants.
But Fubara in his address on Wednesday, appealed to the people of Rivers to remain calm as “we navigate this unfortunate moment in our state’s political history.”
The suspended governor further stated, “Since assuming office as your Governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty. We prioritized the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear State.
“Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else.”
Fubara noted that immediately after the President Tinubu’s intervention to broker peace, he did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned of their own volition.
He added that he moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement after the receipt of the certified true copy of the ruling, saying that his efforts were frustrated by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who made genuine peace and progress difficult.
Fubara stated, “Our priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people. Yes, we have political disagreements, but good governance had continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects were being executed to move the State forward. Above all, Rivers State is safe, secure and peaceful under our watch.
“At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.
“We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.”
