Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, has expressed regret to the populace of the state for the recent political unrest.
He called the situation the “regrettable anxieties of the last few days” and stated that in order for peace to prevail, sacrifices must be made.
This was said by Fubara in a signed statement headed “Peace is priceless” that was given to reporters on Saturday in the state capital of Port Harcourt.
The governor recalled the bombing of the state House of Assembly facility and the split among lawmakers, but he clarified that the purpose of his visit to the House was to evaluate the extent of the fire’s damage and implement corrective actions to safeguard people and property inside the assembly complex.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his intervention, claiming it created a line of communication that would help find a peaceful way to end the problem.
The governor went on to declare that no sacrifice was too great for him, adding that he and his predecessor Nyesom Wike had a shared duty to use their positions to further the welfare, security, and advancement of the populace.
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 has 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 rival faction impeaching the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, thus sparking off some 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.”
Fubara continued, “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 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,” he prayed.
