Ime Akpan
The suspended governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalaye Fubara has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state, saying the action was avoidable if members of the state assembly had not become a clog in the wheel of genuine peace and reconciliation.
Fubara stated this in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Since assuming office, he said all his actions and decisions “have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty” as “we prioritised the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear state,”
Even in the face of the political impasse, he said “we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else,” he said.
He further stated that immediately after President Bola Tinubu intervened initially to find a solution to the political impasse in the state, “we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned on their own volition.”
Furthermore, he said he moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement of February 28 as soon as he received the certified true copy of the judgement to return the state to normalcy.
Fubara said he took those steps “not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear state.”
“Unfortunately,” he said “at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult.”
The suspended governor further said his priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people.
He acknowledged that there were political disagreements.
Nevertheless, he said “good governance had continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects were being executed to move the state forward.”
In the face of the emergency rule, he urged “all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding,” saying “we will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.”
He concluded: “We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.”
For his part, Mr Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the defunct assembly and protégé of the FCT minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, blamed Fubara for the crisis in the state, accusing him of ignoring courts’ judgments and failing to govern according to the dictates of the constitution.
He endorsed the president’s action even though he said it was not what they had hoped for.
“The condition of our dear Rivers State today is mainly because of the malfeasance of the governor, who serially disobeyed court judgments and obstructed the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We assure our constituents that we will abide by this declaration, even though it is not what we prayed for. Mr. President has acted in the best interest of the country,” Amaewhule said in a statement.
He called on the Rivers residents to remain calm and cooperate with the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd) who the president appointed to oversee the affairs of the state.
“We urge everyone to remain calm as the sole administrator assumes duty. Rest assured that the Assembly will give him all the necessary support to restore order,” he added.
Recall that Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and collapsed all the other democratic structures, including the house of assembly for six months.
The president hinged his action on the seeming intractable political logjam that had engulfed the state, almost leading to a breakdown of law and order.
