By Ken Afor
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Saturday succumbed to the pressure after Monday’s display of political might between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara in a 467-word statement on his X account narrated how the incident started a few days ago.
According to the governor, he headed to the State House of Assembly on Monday morning to assess the extent of the damage of the building which was set ablaze on Sunday night only to discover that the House had broken into two factions: one attempting to impeach him and the other had concluded in removing the Majority Leader Edison Ehie and three others.
This however sparked reactions which generated a political crisis in the state.
In the heat of the crisis on Monday, Nigeria’s former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, who is the founding leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the region would not tolerate the rascality by some of the state assembly members and appealed to the President to call Wike to order whom many believed was behind the impeachment plot of the governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The governor in the statement noted that the actions he took were to restore peace and stability in the state.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely intervention in the matter as well as elders in the region.
He called on the immediate past governor of the state, Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to continue with his harmonious relationship with the state for the advancement of progress, security and well-being of our people.
His words: “My dear good people of Rivers State.
“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 has 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 3 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.
“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 crises. I wish to also thank our elders who are currently intervening in the matter.
“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.
“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 on our positions and influences within and outside the state to advance the progress, security and well-being of our people.
“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.
“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.
“May god continue to bless our dear Rivers State.”
