November 12, (THEWILL) – Rivers State is currently enjoying artificial peace, no thanks to a recent imbroglio between the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Both men have embraced ceasefire, following the timely intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
The question is whether the ceasefire is sustainable. How soon will the two gladiators go back to the arena? Will they maintain a lasting peace? These are questions that only Fubara and Wike can answer on their own.
One can see that life is back to normal, with everyone going about their business without hindrance, but political analysts believe that “the current peace is artificial. The ceasefire is temporary”
Fubara has kept talking, but Wike has remained silent as far as the feud with his godson is concerned.
Last Thursday, Fubara acknowledged that Wike is his “oga” (boss). He said this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, when they met for the first time since the political crisis in the state. The event was the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary, held at Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road in Port Harcourt.
On the feud with Wike, Fubara said: “My oga (boss) remains my oga. Whatever that has happened is in the past. I have not sent anybody to malign anybody.”
He described the political crisis as a thing of the past, adding that although it had been a trying time for the state, the misunderstanding would pass. He promised his administration would deliver for the people.
Penultimate Saturday, Fubara also apologised to the people of the state over the recent political crisis in the state, following his feud with Wike.
The Rivers governor, who described the crisis as “regrettable anxieties of the last few days,” however, said it was important to make sacrifices for peace to reign.
Fubara stated this in a statement titled, ‘Peace Is Priceless,’ which he personally signed and issued in Port Harcourt.
While making reference to the alleged bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex and the division among state lawmakers, the governor explained that his visit to the House was to assess the level of damage caused by the fire that resulted from the incident and undertake remedial measures to protect lives and property within the Assembly complex.
He thanked President Tinubu for his intervention, which he claimed opened a series of communication channels aimed at arriving at a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The statement reads, “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, October 29, 2023, I was inundated with reports that the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly had 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, October 30, 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 it 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 three others, preparatory to initiating an impeachment action against me and the other faction impeaching the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, thus sparking off a form of political crisis.
“I wish to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, 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, as leaders, it is the collective responsibility of the immediate past governor of the state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and my humble self, to leverage 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 our part, we are 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 people of Rivers State that peace will certainly prevail and we shall continue to work together to advance the peace, security and progress 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?”
THEWILL recalls that a political crisis ensued when the state lawmakers loyal to Wike attempted to impeach Governor Fubara. The House of Assembly was torched and as the issue degenerated into chaos, security agents allegedly shot at the governor.
Rumours about the Rivers State House of Assembly’s plan to impeach the state governor precipitated a protest. The impeachment move was spearheaded by legislators loyal to Wike, led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
It started with the removal of the Majority Leader, Edison Ehie, apparently a Fubara loyalist. Within a few hours, the governor mobilised a counter offensive, which saw his loyalists “impeach” Amaewhule and replace him with Ehie, who was sacked by the Wike group a few hours earlier.
Hundreds of youths then marched to Amaewhule’s official residence in solidarity with the governor. Their mission was to evict the ‘impeached” Speaker and usher the new one into the building. But things went awry for them.
The men of the Rivers State Police Command moved in at this stage and arrested over 100 youths.
The Commissioner of Police in the state confirmed this and warned the youths not to lend themselves to political violence in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Ihunwo.
