Echoes of the political crisis in Rivers state reverberated on the New Year eve as Governor Siminalayi Fubara taunted his political opponents, saying he and his supporters have come tops in the face-off.
He said what they wanted was to take the red biro (the associated symbol of high office) off him, but that failed as he remained the state’s chief executive.
There has been a running battle between the governor and his erstwhile godfather/immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, who is currently the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu waded in, via an 8-point peace deal which saw the state lawmakers loyal to Wike dropping their impeachment threat against Fubara.
The pro-Wike lawmakers, about 26 in all, elected on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Consequent upon this, the four members loyal to Fubara, declared the defecting lawmakers’ seats vacant, and this has become a subject of litigation currently before a competent court of law.
Matins Amaewhule led the pro-Wike lawmakers as speaker, while Edison Ehie held similar position as a strong supporter of Fubara.
Although the Abuja peace deal came under attacks from some segments of Rivers state, including the elders, Fubara had, in a Christmas broadcast, nevertheless expressed commitment to implementing it, saying it was not a ‘death sentence’ after all.
Fubara speaks
Addressing the crossover church service at St Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town of Opobo/Nkoro local government area of the state, the governor, who has consistently expressed his readiness for peace, said as things stand now, he has won the battle.
Governor Fubara, who hails from the area, said his adversaries had failed in their bid to disrupt the spate of ongoing development in the state.
In a short video posted on his X handle and sourced by Blueprint, Fubara pleaded with the people of the state not to be frightened by the crisis.
While bringing out the red biro from his breast pocket and showing same to the teeming crowd, the governor said: “I want to urge every one of us here, don’t be frightened. What they want is this red biro. It is still with me.”
Continuing, the governor told the excited crowd that “they have failed.”
The governor added: “We are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro. As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers state.”
Confirming the governor’s position in a statement posted Monday on his Facebook wall, his media aide, Boniface Onyedi, further quoted the governor as commending President Tinubu’s fatherly role in the face-off.
“Like I keep saying, it takes a responsible man to be a father. He (Tinubu) acted like a father. On our part, we will continue to give him all the necessary support because if he does not succeed in Rivers State, he will not succeed as a president.
“So, as a state, we will continue to give him every support. We are not pretenders. Our support is genuine, and it is to uplift his programmes. Our sacrifices are part of the support,” Onyedi quoted the governor as saying.
Fubara said nothing would stop his administration from getting to its destination “because its foundation is laid solidly in God who alone will give the grace to complete the process of building.”
While telling the congregation he had already designed a development agenda for the state ahead 2024, he pledged not to back down in his bid to continue working for the good of the state.
Fubara further thanked the people of the state for their support, describing them as believers in true Rivers state, and assured no one would be ignored for standing firm in defence of their governor.
In his sermon, Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta, Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, spoke to the congregation on the 2024 theme: “I will never forget you,” and assured the faithful that God would restore Nigeria to its expected height of glory and stable economy.
The cleric said God won’t let down those who put their trust in him in 2024 because, according to him, they will enjoy His providence and guidance.
Ehie’s resignation
Meanwhile, Ehie, Governor Fubara’s major backer in the state legislature, resigned his membership of the Rivers assembly as part of the governor’s sacrifice for the 8-point peace deal, Blueprint has reliably gathered.
The decision, said multiple sources in the know of the face-off, was to smoothen the implementation of the peace truce, especially the return of the pro-Wike lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant following their defection to the APC.
It was also gathered that Ehie’s resignation would further allow the ‘APC’ lawmakers to return to the assembly with their rights and privileges fully restored.
In a letter addressed to Chairman independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Ehie, who represented Ahoada East State Constituency 11, said he resigned from his position as Speaker and from the House of Assembly as member representing Ahoada East Constituency 11.
He was the majority leader of the 10th Assembly before the political crisis erupted following which he assumed the role of the speaker.
He said he was ready to serve his Constituency, Ahoada East State Constituency in other capacities, pointing to the possibility that he’s likely to be considered for a top appointment in the PDP government.
