Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly as floating and non existent and as such has no valid potency to take binding legislative decisions on the state following their defection.
The Governor disclosed this while addressing a delegation of Traditional Rulers and opinion leaders from Bayelsa state, led by Senator Seriake Dickson, former governor of the state, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
The governor pointed out that he accepted the presidential peace accord to keep them floating as the agreement has no constitutional basis but a political solution to a problem.
“I accepted it because these were people that have eaten in my house and I have assisted pay their children school fee even when I have not become the governor.”
“We may have our disagreement, but I believe that one day we could also come together, that was the reason I did it, but it was time I made a statement on this so that they understand that they are not existing.”
Sir Fubara said he made more sacrifices in the course of the crisis to ensure peace, adding that even with the peace deal his supporters are being harassed and intimidated with arrest everyday, but he has continued to show restraint as a mature leader realizing that there can be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour.
“And because our intentions for Rivers State is to build on the foundation laid by our past leaders, it will be wrong for me to take the path of crisis. And that is why we are still seeing and recording the development that you are witnessing in the state.”
Governor Fubara while acknowledging the gains of his visit to the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri sometime ago revealed that he was working virtually with enemies in his cabinet as commissioners including his Attorney-General who resigned recently were sabotaging his administration, stressing that most information being hidden from him was given to him by Gov. Diri.
The governor who thanked the Bayelsa leaders for their show of solidarity and interest in the affairs of Rivers State, assured that his administration will continue to promote the cordial relationship between the two sister states which has yielded positive results on his administration.
“There is no complete Rivers State without Bayelsa, and there’s no complete Bayelsa without Rivers State. We were separated because of political purposes to expand development, there is no need for argument over assets. Any good development in Bayelsa affects Rivers State, we have very wonderful cordial relationship.”
He assured that he will continue to act in a manner to make the people proud and work for the good of the state in order to leave an enduring legacy that posterity will be kind to him.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson has stated that the visit was to convey the goodwill and solidarity of the people of Bayelsa state, that of foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Mrs Ngozi Odu over their successful emergence as the leaders of the state at this particular time and on their Supreme Court victory.
Senator Dickson who commended Rivers people for their choice of Governor Fubara as their Governor and the overwhelming support given to his administration, said they were concerned about the disturbing political situation in Rivers State and called for peaceful resolution of the political crisis by all parties involved.
He pointed out that Rivers and Bayelsa states enjoyed an inseparable, cultural, historical and political bond which has to be built upon to promote mutual coexistence between the two states, and urged Governor Fubara to continue to work with his Bayelsa counterpart, Governor Douye Diri to achieve common objectives devoid of division.
