*Wike: Peace Has Returned To Rivers, Let’s Move Forward
THE reinstated Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, about 12:11 pm on Friday, September 19, and was greeted by a crowd of supporters who had earlier converged on the VIP wing of the airport, awaiting his arrival, a day after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency imposed on the state.
Accompanied by his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, his former chief of staff, Edison Ehie, his plane touched down after a convoy from the Government House, Port Harcourt, arrived the airport with loads of security men.
On arrival, the governor, wearing the ocassional dark glasses, was received by loyalists, who had thronged the airport as early as 6a.m, as well as former factional speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo; former Nigerian ambassador to the Netherlands, Oji Ngofa; former commissioners- Emma Okah; Adaeze Oreh; Sydney Gbara; Chisom Gbali; Evans Bipi; Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja; former council chairmen of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor; and former president of NUPENG, Igwe Achese; among others.
Fubara’s supporters had earlier gathered in two groups at the Government House and the airport, eagerly awaiting his return to office, as was the case on Thursday, September 18, drumming, dancing and singing.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said President Bola Tinubu deliberately chose to lift the six-month emergency rule he declared at the peak of his (Wike) rift with Fubara in the overall interest of the state.
Speaking on a television programme on Thursday night, Wike said there were steps the government could have taken to prolong the emergency rule.
“I was watching on television today, there are people who are natural crisis builders, who think they can only benefit when there is a crisis.
“If we didn’t want the state of emergency to be lifted, we would have done one or two things to make sure it continued. But we did it for the interest of the state.”
Wike stated that he recently held direct talks with Fubara, as part of efforts to strengthen peace in the oil-rich state, declaring that the rift was over and peace has finally returned to the state.
According to the minister: “As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to Governor Fubara. I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone, you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
Brushing aside the question of who between the two of them initiated the call, Wike also dismissed speculations that he planned to influence Fubara’s next cabinet, pledging to give his successor and former political godson a free hand.
“I cannot go and impose anything on the governor. Why would I impose anything on the governor? Assuming I go to the governor and say, ‘I want this,’ will the state collapse?
“I will not suggest commissioners for the governor. I have no candidate, and I will not.”
The House of the Assembly, on resumption of sitting on Thursday, resolved to write the governor requesting him to forward the list of commissioner nominees for screening and confirmation.
The resolution of the Assembly, which had only Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Timothy O, all Fubara loyalists, absent, followed a motion brought before it by House Leader, Major Jack, and nine others, to set legislative agenda for the state legislature for the remaining third session of the 10th Assembly
Jack also urged the House to write the governor to forward the 2025 Appropriation Bill to it, and moved that it should direct a probe of the six months’ expenditure of the former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ekwe Ibas during the emergency rule period.
He stressed the need for collaboration with the governor towards presenting budget that would reflect the current yearnings of the people, having not participated in the budget implemented during the emergency rule.
The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, agreed with the motion and the House later adjourned plenary to Monday, September 22.
