Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara says those attempting to depose him as the state’s chief executive “failed.”
Fubara spoke at a church service in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Rivers state, on Sunday.
The governor, who did not name names, stated that his opponents have not succeeded in removing him from office.
“I want to urge every one of us here, don’t be frightened. What they want is this red biro but it is still with me. (he retrieves a pen from his chest pocket),” he told the congregants.
In Nigeria’s public service, red biro is used by higher-ranking government officials to sign documents.
“It is still with me,” he said.
“They have failed. We are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro. As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers state.”
“2024 will witness unprecedented heights in our state. The only thing we are asking from every one of you is your support and prayers.
“Also, believe in every decision that we take. We are not going to throw any of you under the bus. I wasn’t a governor when I used to stand for you. So, now that I am the governor, I will stand for you.”
Fubara and his successor, Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), had been at odds over the state’s political structure.
Following the crisis, Wike’s colleagues in the Rivers house of assembly-initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Fubara’s supporters fought back against the impeachment moves.
Following that, 27 state house of assembly members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following that, Edison Ehie, the Rivers assembly’s factional speaker at the time, declared the seats of the lawmakers who defected vacant.
Some commissioners resigned from Fubara’s cabinet during the political crisis.
After President Bola Tinubu intervened in the standoff, the governor and Wike agreed to end their political feud on December 18.
Among the resolutions reached at the meeting were that all legal proceedings initiated by the various factions be “immediately” withdrawn, the 27 lawmakers who defected to the APC be reinstated as members of the assembly, and the impeachment proceedings against Fubara be withdrawn.
The notice of impeachment against the governor was later withdrawn by the 27 lawmakers who signed it.
On December 29, Ehie, a governor’s ally, resigned as a member of the legislative chamber.
Although Ehie didn’t give a reason for his resignation, it is believed to be a fallout of the political crisis in the state.
