Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday May 6 call the bluff off the Rivers State House of Assembly members saying ‘ you do not exist’
He said the lawmakers are existing based on his recognition predicated on the Peace Accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
“It has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere,” the governor said
Governor Fubara stated this while addressing a delegation of political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State who visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to seek and end to the political crisis in Rivers State and an improved relationship between both states.
Others on the delegation included the first Military Governor of old Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, who is the Traditional Ruler of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, other Traditional Rulers, former Commissioners, former State and National Assembly members and PDP executives.
Governor Fubara told the delegation which was led by the former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Siriake Dickson, that he has been the one showing restriant since the crisis escalated in the state.
He said despite wielding state powers which he can deploy to achieve his aim, he has continued to act as the big brother in the face of intimidation and unwarranted attacks.
He said, “Those group of men who claim that are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating. That is the truth. There was nothing in that Peace Accord that’s a constitutional issue; it’s a political solution to a problem. And I accepted it because these were people that were eating in my house, these were people I have helped paid their children’s school fees when I wasn’t even a governor. So, what is the thing there?
“We might have our division but I believe that one day, we could also come together but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our state.”
He revealed that he had always been present at any meeting that was called to resolve the crisis in the state but after each meeting, he was met with a new dimension of the crisis from the opposing side.
He vowed to continued to be peaceful, acknowledging that power is transient.
Governor Fubara acknowledged the role played by some political leaders, especially his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in his emergence as governor but said that such efforts won’t make him to worship a man.
He attributed his emergence as divine, saying God can use anyone, including one’s enemy to accomplish His purpose in a man’s life.
He also decried the use of police officere to intimidate his supporters, despite showing restraint in the crisis.
Governor Fubara also decried how some of his commissioners were sabotaging him.
He said on an occasion, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri was the person who briefed him about an important information that a Commissioner was supposed to have informed him.
In his speech, the leader of the Bayelsa delegation, Dickson, highlighted the cultural and political bond between Rivers and Bayelsa, saying it is important both states stay united.
He called for the preservation of their historic connection, stressing that the creation of Bayelsa State should not lead to division but rather be an opportunity for mutual benefit.
Senator Dickson also commended Governor Fubara for his efforts to resolve the disputes between both states by paying the first visit to his Bayelsa counterpart earlier this year.
Addressing the political challenges facing Rivers State, Senator Dickson called for collective responsibility from Governor Fubara and his predecessor.
He said Rivers State should be to the South-South, what Lagos State is to the South-West.
He also lauded the President’s intervention in resolving the political tension in Rivers State and asked both leaders in the state to seek wise counsel from other leaders in the state and in Bayelsa when the need arises to permanently resolve the crisis.
Dickson called on leaders of Rivers State to support both Governor Fubara and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to succeed in their respective roles.