- Says It Is Clear That There’s No Way To Settle The Crisis Amicably
- Unveils Plans To Set Up A Panel Of Inquiry To Probe Wike’s Administration
- Even If It’s By Mistake, I am Now Governor, He Fires Back At Wike, Others
In a latest twist to the already volatile political crisis rocking the oil rich south-south state of Rivers, the state’s Governor Siminalayi Fubara has announced a plan by his administration to set up a panel of inquiry into the governance of the state.
This is even as he emphatically stated that the state is in a critical situation where it has become obvious that the political crisis cannot be resolved.
This is the latest installment in the political crisis rocking the oil-rich state. The development can be seen as capable of deepening the feud between Fubara, Wike and the state House of Assembly.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Confirm Commissioner Nominee
Last week, lawmakers loyal to the governor elected a new speaker. Fubara had also issued an executive order relocating the sitting venue of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the Government House, citing safety concerns.
Even the intervention by President Bola Tinubu into the crisis last year has had no effect on the imbroglio.
Fubara chose the occasion of the swearing in Dagogo Iboroma as the Attorney General of the state shortly after the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was screened and confirmed by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly to further beat the drumbeat of war.
He charged Iboroma to brace up for the huge task ahead without fear while decaring that there is no going back on Wike’s probe.
READ ALSO: Gov Fubara’ s Presence Instill Fear around The Rivers Assembly quarters
“Why are we bringing you in at this very critical time? You have a big task. As it is today, in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of governance,” he said. “So, brace up. I am not going back on it”.
“Please defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman who is peaceful. You are not a noise-maker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God,” Fubara told Iboroma.
Fubara said the swearing-in of Iboroma marked the beginning of a new era for his government, which he noted has moved on from the political crisis in the state.
The governor accused his opponents of deliberately sabotaging his administration while he was hoping that the issue in the state would be resolved amicably.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Fubara, Jombo Flex Muscles
“I am happy that this is happening today to mark the beginning of a new era in our administration. When I said that I had a reason for being patient, it is because I know that we are all from one family and if we have a disagreement, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved amicably”.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement, there is no way to resolve it amicably. And for a lot of reasons, there is visible evidence that there is sabotage and deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“For that reason, we have to move forward. And moving forward, if it means taking decisions that are going to hurt anybody. We are not going back on the protection of the interest of Rivers people.”
Governor Fubara also responded to comments by former Attorney General Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN), and his counterpart in the Ministry of Works Alabo George-Kelly.
He accused the former Attorney General of sabotaging his administration by filing nolle prosequi against the interest of the state.
READ ALSO: Governor Fubara to Pro-Wike Rivers Assembly Members: You Don’t Exist!
On the comment by George-Kelly, Governor Fubara maintained he would have been promoted beyond Level 14 in the civil servants before his retirement.
He said he was already on Level 13 as a Chief Account Officer before 2023. According to him, even if it was a mistake, by the special grace of God he is here as a governor.
“Even if it is a mistake (his emergence as a governor), by the special grace of God, I am here today. Let me also appeal to them, let them continue to make mistakes,” Fubara said.
