- Fubara said he was more concerned about the fate of Rivers people who had made sacrifices.
- He disclosed that he genuinely loved Rivers state and would do what he could to make sure the state was not plunged into turmoil.
Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, says he is willing to abdicate his position if that’s what it will take to end the protracted crisis the state is enmeshed in. .
For months on end, Fubara and the former governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, have been at intense loggerheads over the economic and political control of the state.
The crisis reached a frightening level when the state house of assembly complex was razed after an attempt by the state lawmakers to impeach the governor.
President Bola Tinubu had to step in to quel the raging crisis and implored the warring parties to sheath their swords, leading to the signing of an accord between Fubara and the minister of FCT, Wike.
Amid the imbroglio, twenty-seven members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in an attempt to impeach the governor.
Speaking on the crisis, the governor said that no sacrifice would be too big for him to pay for the success of the administration.
The governor made this known in an interview with African Independent Television, AIT.
He disclosed that he genuinely loved Rivers state and would do what he could to make sure the state was not plunged into turmoil.
Fubara added that if leaving his position as governor will bring peace to Rivers, then he’s willing to do so, adding that he did not want to take certain actions as governor that would have far reaching devastating effects on the state and its residents.
He said: “No sacrifice would be too big for me to pay for the success of this administration. And the reason is simple: it’s not political love. It’s not because I want to gain any favour from anybody, my interest and love for our dear state is genuine. I am not trying to say I want to be one man that will be there to decide the fate of all. No. But let Rivers State remain.
“My burden at that time was not the issue of all the drama, it is the issue of Rivers people who have made sacrifice, who are seeing opportunity, and it looks as if their hope has been dashed. They were the one I was worried about; what would be their fate, that was my trouble, it was not about me.
“If leaving this position is what I need or what is needed to bring more peace to the State, I can even tell you to come and take it. It’s not about me. People should know although definitely I am here, I will go but Rivers State will remain.
“I’m the governor, there are things I could have done and there would be total crisis but the ability to restrain in the face of crisis even when you have the power to do things is maturity.”