By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
COMMITMENT BY all stakeholders is required to make peace permanent in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said in his first statewide broadcast on resumption of official duties following the expiration of the six-month emergency rule.
The Governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in resolving the political crisis and restoring democratic governance in the state.
“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.
“The responsibility now rests squarely on us: the Government, the State House of Assembly, political leaders and stakeholders to put aside our differences, work for the common good, and advance the interests of our people above all else.
“We have a duty to ensure that the peace we have all embraced remains permanent in our dear Rivers State,” Fubara said.
The Governor extended gratitude to the President for what he called a fatherly role and decisive action.
“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.
“Personally, I will never take Mr. President’s kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude,” he said.
Fubara described the last six months of emergency rule as challenging, recalling that the political crisis led to the suspension of democratic institutions in the state.
He noted that he resisted pressure to challenge the declaration in court, guided by the conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace.
“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.
“This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions that we endured during this difficult period,” he said.
He credited the President with brokering reconciliation among all parties, including himself, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully.
“Our Leader, His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, 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,” Fubara stated.
Addressing concerns from those expressing fears over the peace process, the Governor said their worries were valid but insisted nothing had been irretrievably lost.
“There remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness. We must all remember the saying, ‘the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war’.
Accordingly, let us, therefore, embrace this moment as a fresh beginning. Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous Rivers State. I assure you that we will continuously work towards ensuring that we carry everyone along,” he said.
Fubara noted that despite turbulence, his administration recorded milestones in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key sectors over the last two years.
He promised to resume governance fully by completing all ongoing projects and ensuring none was starved of funds. On his relationship with the legislature, the Governor pledged collaboration.
“I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State. I also renew my pledge to serve with the fear of God, humility and a high sense of duty,” he said.
He thanked the people of Rivers for their patience and peaceful conduct during the emergency period, while acknowledging the support of stakeholders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, women, youths and well-wishers at home and abroad.
He urged citizens to rise above division and bitterness. “We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies into rebuilding trust, fostering inclusiveness, and securing a peaceful and prosperous state for all,” Fubara said.
The Governor also thanked Wike for committing to the resolution of the crisis and further commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen and members of the National Assembly for their roles.
He acknowledged the Speaker and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, elders, stakeholders and concerned citizens for working to restore peace and harmony.
He called on all Rivers people, regardless of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, to join hands in rebuilding the state and securing a future of dignity and progress.
