By Abiola Olawale
The crisis rocking Rivers State has continued to reach the rooftop as Governor Siminalayi Fubara has accused some individuals in the state of allegedly ambushing him through a peace agreement he signed last year.
Fubara, speaking during a non-denominational thanksgiving in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said he discovered that certain individuals were not genuinely dedicated to the peace accord facilitated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the intense crisis affecting the state.
He clarified that though Tinubu’s intention was pure and clean, some people were not sincere about resolving the political turmoil in the state.
He explained that it was at the point of realising the sinister motives of the other party involved in the peace deal that he decided not to play into their hands.
He lampooned the pro-Wke lawmakers for not keeping to the peace agreement, describing their actions as fraudulent.
He said: “We went to Abuja, and Mr. President, knowing the importance of peace for Rivers State, called out some conditions for peace.
“We came back here, in this state, to do everything that has to do with the conditions of the peace. We went to court immediately and withdrew our matters. And you call yourself honourable when you cannot obey simple instructions.
“I acted as an honourable. I discovered that I was being ambushed not by the person who initiated the peace.”
The governor thanked all the prominent Rivers people and others who had supported his government in the last year for their belief and resilience to scuttle the plots of enemies of his government.
He reiterated his commitment to enthrone peace, acknowledging that his supporters had taken a very difficult part in that last year.
He further said: “We are still complete. Let me tell you, we are still intact. They said we’re not going to last for one week. We are here one year plus.
“They said we would not have local government chairmen. Today, we have local government chairmen.
“They said commissioners should resign immediately. Today, we have more than 23 commissioners.
“They said they are not going to do anything; they are going to frustrate them, they are not going to succeed. By the grace of God, there are lots of projects that are touching the lives of the people.”
It would be recalled that following the political crisis which started after Fubara fell out with Wike, the Rivers State Governor presented the 2024 budget to the House loyal to him when his current Chief of Staff Edison Ehie presided as the Speaker.
Ehie and the other pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates, and the governor signed the bill into law. He stated that it is aimed at promoting economic development, inclusive growth, and addressing socio-economic inequality in the state.
An eight-point peace deal was later brokered by President Tinubu and other stakeholders at a crucial meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Wike camp also agreed that all impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor by the Rivers State House of Assembly be dropped immediately.
The parties in the feud resolved to recognise the leadership of Martin Amaewhule in the Rivers State House of Assembly and not that of Edison Ehie.
However, the peace accord has not been able to yield fruitful results.
