…vows next step’ll be ‘fire for fire’
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, vowed to surprise his political rivals who misconstrue his “honest decision” to implement the presidential peace pact as a sign of weakness.
Fubara who spoke while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State on a solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said he had been assailed with several comments about the implementation of the peace initiative, but decided to remain silent out of maturity and wisdom.
He was reacting days after the Rivers House of Assembly threatened to begin fresh impeachment proceedings against him.
Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaehwule, had at a press conference on Saturday accused Governor Fubara of failure to implement the pact.
Amaehwule had said the responsibilities of the Assembly are constitutionally recognised and it holds the mandate of carrying out its responsibilities.
He had appealed to those close to the Governor to advise him to uphold the terms of the peace accord brokered by President Tinubu.
Rivers Assembly and Fubara have been at loggerheads since the Governor fell out with his predecessor and incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
But Governor Fubara said it was important to put the records straight for clarity, explaining that when President Tinubu intervened in the political crisis that engulfed the state in 2023, the accepted agreement was a political solution.
He noted that he had since then began to implement the agreement, mainly because of the respect he has for President Tinubu, warning that it appeared that other political actors had misunderstood his humility and compliance as a sign of weakness.
Fubara said, “Let me say it here for record purposes: What is happening here in our dear State is somebody who has respect for an elder. Mr. President invited all the parties to Abuja, and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it. It is not a constitutional implementation. It is a political solution to a problem.
“And I am doing it because of the respect I have for Mr President. But, let me say it here, if that action that I have accepted to take would be seen as a weakness, I will surprise them. I want this message to go to them.
“Some days ago, somebody said we are busy renting crowd for thanksgiving. But what I have seen here today, it’s not different from what is happening at those thanksgiving rallies. People are just appreciating God and good governance.”
The Rivers Governor noted that he was mindful of the legacy he would bequeath after his tenure.
“It should also be about the lives that have been touched genuinely; about the policies implemented without any inducement to better the lives of the people and the society,” he said.
He appealed to the people of the state to continue to support his government, show understanding of the actions taken by his administration and obey the laws under a peaceful atmosphere.
“When you are doing what is right, I will stand by you. Nobody, whether full or half is going to intimidate you. Brace up, I say brace up, because the next step, it will be fire for fire in Rivers State. Everything will be implemented.”