Governor Siminalayi Fubara has urged his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to relinquish any desire to control Rivers State to ensure peace in the oil-rich region.
Fubara expressed no regrets about holding the local government elections last Saturday, despite pushback from Wike’s supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have all the guts to do these things,” the governor said on Channels TV, calling on Wike to abandon any perceived influence he has over the South-South state.
“There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign,” Fubara stated. “I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything.”
When asked what he would say to Wike if they met, Fubara responded, “I’ll tell him (Wike) that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go. We need peace in this state.
“You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights; at times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state. We need to secure the state.
“Fubara will leave tomorrow. Who knows who is going to come? It might be through him or another person but we need to secure the state.
“What I am appealing is: everyone should sheathe their swords. Even to the minister, my oga (my boss), there is no need to destroy this state.”
“Wike once ruled this state and the state was an envy of every other state. Another person is there now, what we need now is the support, after four years or eight years, who knows? I will also leave and someone else will take over. That should be the spirit.
“When it comes to the election period, you can fight and do whatever but now is the time for governance. We need all the support,” the governor concluded.
