Why I knelt down to beg Wike – Fubara

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has asked his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow peace to reign in the state.

Speaking Monday on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, Fubara said he had knelt down to beg Wike.

According to the governor, he had kept all understanding with his predecessor to ensure peace in the state but to no avail.

He stated that he does not regret conducting last Saturday’s local government election in Rivers State despite the resistance by Wike’s loyalists in the PDP and the APC.

“There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything,” he said.

Asked what his message to Wike would be if they met, Governor Fubara replied: “I’ll tell him that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go. We need peace in this state.

“You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights; at times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state. We need to secure the state.

“Fubara will leave tomorrow. Who knows who is going to come? It might be through him or another person but we need to secure the state.

“What I am appealing is that everyone should sheathe their swords. Even to the minister, my boss, there is no need to destroy this st

“He once ruled this state and the state was an envy of every other state. Another person is there now, what we need now is support. After four years or eight years, who knows? I will also leave and someone else will take over. That should be the spirit.

“When it comes to the election period, you can fight and do whatever but now is the time for governance. We need all the support.”

Lingering political hostility between Fubara and Wike took a messier trajectory as the state conducted local council elections over the weekend.

Despite the PDP, the APC, and the police withdrawing from the electoral process, the governor proceeded with the election on Saturday.

The State was thrown into crisis on Monday, a day after the swearing in of 22 winners of the controversial LG elections.

Bloody clashes erupted in at least four local government areas, with sections of buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze by thugs.

Sporadic gunfire was also reported in Ahoada East as a means of resisting the newly appointed council officials.

This followed the withdrawal of police officers assigned to secure the 23 council premises, as ordered by the commissioner of police.