Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, aid no amount was too big to pay for peace to reign in the state.
The governor said this at the third convocation and sixth Founders Day ceremonies of the PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Iriebe Town in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Fubara, while addressing the graduands thanked Rivers people for the overwhelming love and support for him
The governor, who became emotional and fought back tears, stated, “I thank all of you for the love and support from Rivers people. And I want to say that no amount is too big for peace. I will continue to pay for it. ‘
The governor also said that the provision of a qualitative education system and affordable public healthcare services would remain two vital priorities of his administration.
He stated, “While some progress has been made, it is obvious that a lot still needs to be done to achieve our collective aspirations for universal access to quality education and healthcare for our people.
“I need not say that no society can progress without educated and healthy people.”
But the Convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Clark, faulted the meeting convened by Tinubu to address tension between Fubara and Wike.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark condemned the agreement, describing it as appalling and unacceptable to the people.
The elder statesman also alleged that Fubara had been “ambushed and intimidated” into signing the agreement, adding that Tinubu’s intervention was a desecration of the constitution.
“It is obvious that Governor Siminialayi Fubara was ambushed and intimidated into submission. President Tinubu should know that with all the powers he possesses, he cannot override the Constitution.
“From all that transpired at the meeting, the laws of the land have not been obeyed. President Tinubu simply sat over a meeting where the constitution, which is the fulcrum of his office as President and which he swore to uphold and abide by, was truncated and desecrated.
“The eight resolutions reached, are the most unconstitutional, absurd, and obnoxious resolutions at settling feuding parties that I have ever witnessed in my life. As a matter of fact, some media captured it very well when they described it as directives,” he said.
Clark also alleged that the resolutions showed that Tinubu was trying to compensate Wike for winning the presidential election in Rivers for the APC, adding that people “will resist such draconian, arbitrary and unconstitutional action by Mr President and his customer, Nyesom Wike”.
“We will go to court to challenge this so-called one-sided and oppressive action of Mr. President”, he added.
Also, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, on Tuesday, said the defectors must not be allowed to return to their former party.
He said the nine commissioners who resigned from Fubara’s cabinet should be immediately replaced by the governor.
Okaba rejected the agreement allegedly reached with Rivers State stakeholders on the crisis in the state, saying Tinubu ought not to have meddled in issues of the constitution.
He spoke to one of our correspondents on Tuesday against the backdrop of the Abuja agreement, describing the document as lopsided, pointing out that Tinubu must not encourage lawlessness.
The INC president said, “First is to appreciate the President for the initiative to ensure that peace returns to Rivers State. But as for the document that is making the rounds, we are still having doubts as to whether it was the product of a dialogue or some document that was preconceived and read to some persons.
“But if we are to go by the items so published I think that apart from item one which talks about stopping every process of impeachment, all the seven other items are not acceptable. They are heavily condemnable, they are lopsided and one-sided.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
