Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday said he and Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, have resolved to put their political differences aside in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
In a statewide broadcast, Fubara declared: “Our Leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.”
The governor noted that the peace deal, brokered by President Bola Tinubu, had effectively drawn the curtain on months of crisis that culminated in a six-month emergency rule in the state.
“Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully,” Fubara said.
He explained that though the period under emergency rule was “enormously challenging,” he resisted pressures to contest the legality of the action.
“As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State,” he added.
The governor expressed optimism that peace and stability had returned to the state, but cautioned that all political actors must sustain the reconciliation.
“We believe the political crisis is now behind us and that peace and stability have once again returned to Rivers State, though not without the hard lessons learnt from the emergency rule,” he said.
Fubara also extended appreciation to President Tinubu, describing him as decisive in resolving the crisis.
“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for his fatherly disposition and decisive interventions in resolving the political crisis and for graciously restoring full democratic governance to our State,” he stated.
He continued “Personally, I will never take Mr. President’s kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude.”
To Rivers residents uneasy about the peace process, the governor said: “To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness.”
Looking ahead, he pledged to return focus to governance and service delivery.
“Our immediate responsibility is to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects which we started by ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected, thereby reviving our economy, protecting lives and property, and improving the wellbeing of all Rivers people,” Fubara said.
