I don’t owe Wike, I kept every understanding with him, says Fubara
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has said the crisis in Rivers State has nothing to do with a breach of agreement with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, Fubara advised Wike: “There is a time you need to let go.”
Asked if his refusal to keep to a political understanding reached with Wike was the cause of the problem, Fubara said: “There is no understanding that we have that I didn’t keep. And there is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything.”
Fubara said the crisis in the state is a contest for power. He advised Wike to allow him focus on governance and if he wants to wrestle for power, there will be a time for such.
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“I always prefer not to discuss the issues. To the minister, my Oga, what I need is support. After four years or eight years, I will leave.”
When asked what message he would convey to Wike, his former political ally turned adversary, Fubara said, “I’ll tell him (Wike) that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go. We need peace in this state.”
He added, “You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights; at times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state. We need to secure the state. Fubara will leave tomorrow. Who knows who is going to come? It might be through him or another person, but we need to secure the state.”
The governor said while he appreciates the statement from President Bola Tinubu about restoring peace in the state, he is shocked when the President mentioned his name in the statement. Fubara said everybody knows where the problem is coming from.
He raised the alarm that there are plans to arrest some of his supporters. He, however, warned that nobody should take his gentle posture for weakness. “I have the guts. You’ve seen that,” he said.
Lingering political hostility between Fubara and Wike took a messier turn as the state conducted local council elections over the weekend.
Fubara raised concerns on Sunday evening, shortly before swearing in the 23 newly elected local government chairpersons, warning that some disgruntled political actors were mobilising to undermine the state’s stability on Monday.
