Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has broken his silence over the resignation of Edison Ehie as both the factional speaker and member of the state House of Assembly.
Ehie, who loyally identified with Fubara during the crisis, decided to quit his position as a member representing Ahoada-East Constituency II in a letter dated December 29, 2023, addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While addressing dignitaries, including former governor Peter Odili and his wife, Mary, at the first state banquet he hosted at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday night, Fubara said Ehie’s resignation indicated the extent to which he could go to achieve peace in Rivers.
Referring to Ehie as the immediate past speaker, Fubara said: “Therefore, whatever it will take as seen in our decisions, yesterday most of you were worried why the speaker would resign. It is to tell you what we can do for peace.
“It is not about what we want to gain. It is not about the power we want to exercise. But at the end of the day, ask what we are leaving for our people.
“So, we took those decisions, not out of fear, but because at the end of the day, when we leave here, we want you to remember us not as leaders with fear but remember us for our simplicity, remember us for our care, remember us that we are people who are prepared to give in anything for the interest of our dear state.”.
The governor had earlier said he never wanted to speak on the matter but decided otherwise because of what he read somewhere.
He insisted that all the decisions he took were not borne out of fear, but were compelled by the state’s interest and respect for elders.
The governor, whose speech intermittently drew applause from the crowd, said though everyone would not like the content of the peace agreement, it was in his place as a leader to enforce it.
Fubara insisted that he would not like to be involved in any dirty political fight because of its negative implications for peace and development.
Fubara said, “I have planned not to say anything this night. I have said too much already. But I read something, and it will be improper if I don’t, at least, respond to it on a special day like this.
“First, let me wish every one of you or all of us that are here a very fruitful and prosperous new year. This is because every decision that we have taken is not borne out of fear, but because we have the interests of our people in mind and we have respect for elders.
“The president requested that we do certain things. As much as it might not be very comfortable with everyone that is here, it is the place of the leader to say, Let us go along with it. Because if we don’t have peace in the state, there won’t be the meaningful development that we desire.
“So, I’m speaking to everyone; let us embrace the peace. We need this peace because our intention for our state is not because of our own personal interests; it is in the interest of everyone, in the development of our state.
“So, when we are faced with this type of situation, we consider the actions and reactions. Who is going to suffer? Fubara will not suffer, I can assure you that. But one million supporters will suffer.
“So, those decisions are decisions we took because we want you to feel like you’re with me. We want you to see me as your governor and be happy.”.
On why the state hosted the banquet, the governor said, “So, our new year message to our dear state, and more especially, this is our first inaugural banquet, is to show that the government is alive.
“I want to leave you with only this message. We will not disappoint you. We, too, will not be involved in any dirty fighting because we know that we are going to be the losers.
“2024 is for all of us. If I could survive, and you don’t have any problems, you’ll survive better than me. So, I am wishing every one of us here a fruitful and prosperous 2024 to the glory of God.”