- Fubara said he was concerned Tinubu only mentioned his name in his statement.
- He stated that he does not have a hand in the crisis in Rivers and the conflicts are easy to resolve.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says President Bola Tinubu statement on the violence that characterised the aftermath of the local government election in the State leaves so much to be desired.
Recall that violence broke out in at least four local government areas on Monday following the Saturday’s poll.
Some buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises were set ablaze by rampaging political tbugs, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist newly elected council officials on Monday.
The burning of LG secretariats came shortly after the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats.
Tinubu, in a statement late Monday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats in the state.
The President also urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
Reacting to Tinubu’s statement on the crisis, Fubara said he was concerned Tinubu only mentioned his name in his statement.
He stated that he does not have a hand in the crisis in Rivers and the conflicts are easy to resolve.
He said: “I do not have any issue with it (the President’s intervention) but I am a bit concerned when my name was only mentioned.
“The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC, everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers State knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science. We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara, it is not.
“I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, maybe we will have a breathing space.
“Maybe as a result of him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons they (hoodlums) took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work, at least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of.
“I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them.”