Siminalayi Fubara
BY Abdulsalam Abdullah
Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he is bothered about President Bola Tinubu “singling him out” in a statement on the crisis in Rivers state.
Arsonists have torched three LGA secretariats in Rivers at the last count, with anarchy the order of the day in the oil rich state for days on end.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Monday, Fubara said everyone in the state knows who is behind the mayhem that has engulfed the state.
On Monday, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP), ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the 23 LGA secretariats in Rivers.
Shortly afterwards, suspected hoodlums invaded a slew of Rivers LGA secretariats to wreak havoc and prevent newly elected council officials from resuming duties.
TINUBU’S DIRECTIVE
In a statement on Monday issued by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Tinubu directed the IGP to restore security and maintain peace, law and order in Rivers.
“President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers state to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law,” the first paragraph of the statement reads.
The president also directed the police to keep vandals at bay.
Reacting to the president’s intervention, the Rivers governor expressed concern over why his name was the only one mentioned.
“I do not have any issue with the president’s intervention but I am a bit concerned when my name was the only one mentioned. Like I said, since it’s coming from the president, I’m not going to comment on it,” Fubara said.
“The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC. Everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers state knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science.
“We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara. It is not.
“I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the inspector general of police, maybe we will have breathing space.
“Maybe him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons why they took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work. At least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of.”
The governor added that he never suggested that the police should completely pull out of the local governments.
“I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them,” Fubara added.
“I support that the police should come back, support the elected officers to secure those councils. Because, it’s public property — we all need to join hands together to protect them.”
‘I’LL LEAVE WHEN MY TIME IS UP’
The Rivers governor also said he would leave office when his time is up.
Fubara spoke during an evaluation of the damage caused by suspected political thugs at the Ikwerre LG secretariat in Isiokpo.
He bemoaned the scale of the destruction, questioning why a legacy project built by the previous chairman was being ruined for political gain.
“I feel very sad seeing what has just happened in this council. I want to say this to the entire Rivers state: If you are called upon, play your politics with a sense of responsibility,” he said.
“We don’t need to kill ourselves. My time will come, and I will leave; do I need to burn the government house?
“This council secretariat was built by the immediate past chairman, and for me, we know the history of this council, how he sought funds, and how it was executed.
“This is supposed to be a legacy project for him that whoever is going to come after now will continue to remember that at a certain time, certain persons built this for the LGA. But, look at what we are seeing here today. Must we go low in politics?”
He also lamented that council development funds will now cover rehabilitation costs, urging residents to act responsibly in the face of provocation, for the greater good.
“There was an election on Saturday, and the new council chairmen were inaugurated on Sunday,” the governor said.
“We are aware of the boasting that they would not be allowed to access the secretariats… and we were happy in the early hours of this morning when the IGP directed his men to vacate the premises for easy access for the newly elected officers to resume office.
“Immediately, they (hoodlums) took advantage of that space to destroy government facilities.
“Who is the loser? The new council chairmen that are coming in. The funds that would be applied to other things would now be used to fix this place.
“Are we not acting as irresponsible people? This is an act of irresponsibility! Even if one advises you to go and destroy a government facility, are you not supposed to think twice?
“We all know where this is coming from. That is the truth. Everybody knows that this is not from my supporters.
“But, I leave all to the security agencies to do a thorough work, and let us know the people that are behind this assault on the institutions of democracy.”
Rivers has been embroiled in crisis due to the conflict between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over control of the political structure of the state.
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