Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that while he appreciates the roles played by past leaders, including his predecessor Nyesom Wike, in his ascension to office, he will not worship any human being.
Fubara made this clear when he received a courtesy visit from a Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former Governor Senator Seriake Dickson, at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday, News About Nigeria reports.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara said, “God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it. It is only for us to realise that. God will not come down from Heaven but will pass through one man or woman to achieve His purpose.”
He added, “So, for that reason, when we act, we act as humans; human vessels that God has used, and not seeing yourself as God.”
The governor further said, “But it is a bad thing when the problem that ought not to be anything, becomes something, and in fact, gets out of the bedroom to the sitting room and to the compound. That is the case of Rivers State today.
“I am also happy that you even mentioned the issues, even when I have all the instruments of state powers. I have shown restraint, and I believe that whoever is alive and has been following the activities of our dear state, knows that I have acted as a big brother in the course of this crisis.
“I have not acted like a young man who may want the house to be destroyed but I have behaved like the mature young man that I am. This is because I know that no meaningful development will be achieved in an atmosphere of crisis.
“And because our intention for Rivers State is to build on the foundation that had been laid by our past leaders, it will be wrong for me to take the path of promoting crisis.
“That is why we are still recording the development that you are hearing around Rivers State.”
It should be noted that Fubara and Wike have been at odds over the political crisis rocking the state, despite President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The governor stated that he has attended several reconciliation meetings, whose resolutions the other party has rebuffed. He maintained that he has acted like a big brother in the crisis, seeking a peaceful resolution and meaningful development in the state.
He said, “But I know that I have always taken the path of peace. I have shown respect. I’ve subjected myself to every meeting of reconciliation for peace.
“And what happens, each time we come out from such meetings, we are faced with one thunder or lightning.”
Fubara also took a swipe at the Martin Amaewhule-led group of lawmakers, declaring that they do not exist anymore as lawmakers in the eyes of the law.
He said, “Let me say it here, those groups of men who claim that they are assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record.
“I accepted that peace accord to give them a floating (soft-landing). That’s the truth. There is nothing in that peace accord that is a constitutional issue. It is a political solution to a problem. I accepted it because there were people that were visiting me and we were together in my house.
“These are people that I have helped… in many ways when I wasn’t even a Governor. Yes, we might have our disagreements, but I believe that one day, we could also come together. That was the reason I did it.
“But I think it has gotten to a time when I need to make a statement on this thing, so that they understand that they are not existing. Their existence and whatever they have been doing is because I allowed them to do so. If I don’t recognise them, they are nowhere, that is the truth,” he said.
He added: “So, I want you to see the sacrifice I have made to allow peace to be in our State. I can say here, with all amount of boldness, I have never called any policeman anywhere to go and harass anybody.
“I have never gone anywhere to ask anybody to do anything against anybody. But what happens to the people that are supporting me? They are being harassed, they are being arrested and detained.
“There is no week that somebody doesn’t come here with one letter of invitation for trump-up charges and all those things.
“I am saying all these because of what my senior said here: restrain. I don’t think the other party has shown any restraint. I am the one who has shown restraint in the face of this crisis.
“I am the one that is badly hit, even when I have all the government instruments to shake up the table. But, why will I do it? I believe that peace is the best relationship to cultivate.”
The governor thanked the delegation for their solidarity and noted that there is no complete Rivers State without Bayelsa State and vice versa. He also regretted that Rivers State was experiencing a protracted political crisis due to a lack of leaders of conscience who could mediate issues without bias.
Senator Seriake Dickson, the leader of the delegation, said their visit was one of solidarity with Governor Fubara and Rivers people, who have shown maturity in the face of the political crisis.
He called for peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, unity, mutual respect, political maturity, and tolerance by all.
