Fubara: I’m not an ungrateful person… I won’t oppress anyone in Rivers

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he will not  “oppress” anyone in the state.

In a statement, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara’s chief press secretary, said the governor spoke on Monday when received stakeholders of the Ikwerre ethnic group at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Alluding to the political crisis in Rivers, Fubara said he has “not thrown caution to the wind” because he is peaceful.

Fubara is locked in a political feud with Nyesom Wike, his successor and current minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The political crisis has polarised the Rivers house of assembly.

Fubara told the Ikwere stakeholders that he was grateful for becoming governor through the help of Wike, their son.

Wike is an Ikwerre man from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor LGA.

“I want to also say this. Fubara is not an ungrateful person. If I were a bad person, you (one) can’t hide a character that is bad for more than one week, two weeks, one month, one year, two years, eight years, even more than eight years. For 16 years, if I was a bad person, everybody would have known,” the governor said.

“But, even your own child that is in your house that you have given birth to, let us start with even the girl child. It gets to a stage, where your girl child will enter the bathroom and lock the door from behind.

“Even if they forcefully put a feeding bottle in my mouth, if I get filled up, won’t I pull it out?

“So, when people stand outside and say what they say, I want you people to ask them to tell you in their own good conscience, what is that bad thing; that wickedness, that ungratefulness that this man (Fubara) has ever shown or done. But, I leave that one to God who will judge everybody.”

“Let me also assure you people that are here and the people that you represent. Our government will be a government that will give equal opportunity to everybody. It will be a government that will operate a system where no man is oppressed.

“I will not by any means, directly or indirectly, oppress anybody. I want to leave this office and be a peaceful man, walk the streets without security. That is the greatest achievement of a good leader.”

Fubara expressed appreciation for the visit, saying he would prioritise good governance.

“What kind of support again do I need when their fathers are here with me to say look, we support you,” he said.

“It is the greatest blessing that any son can get. So, let me thank all the royal fathers, and opinion leaders of Ikwerre (nation) worldwide for this support.

“I want to assure you that not minding what is happening. I will not throw caution to the wind. I will continue to appreciate the support you people gave and continue to give to me through one of your sons.

“It doesn’t matter whether the person accepts it or not. I will continue to appreciate it. That one alone is what makes me restrain my actions when it gets to that point when I need to act.

“I assure you that we are going to work together for the progress and development of our state.”

Fubara asked the people to “always stand for what is right” no matter who is involved.