Rivers State governor, Siminalaye Fubaba, has said there is no crisis in the state and Nigerians know those causing problem.
Fubara has been at loggerheads with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, who was said to have contributed immensely to his emergence as governor.
The political crisis in the state took a different turn earlier this week when the governor ordered chairman across the 23 Local Government Areas to handover to the most senior admin officers in their respective councils, following the expiration of their three-year tenure.
Some of the chairmen reportedly refused to obey the directive of the governor, insisting that the Martin Amaewhule-led state house of assembly had extended their stay in office till December 2024.
Follwing the development, youth loyal to Fubara invaded local council areas and chased the chairmen out of office. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed the Rivers Police Command to take over the council areas, in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. This came after one person and a police inspector had been killed in the melee that ensued.
Since then, tension has increased in the state. But Fubara, who spoke on Friday, while flagging off the construction of projects in the state, said the state is peaceful and not under siege.
“Rivers state is peaceful. You can see that we are moving about inspecting (projects) as against what you see on the screens of your television that police is everywhere and we don’t move about anymore, and that Rivers state is under siege,” he said.
“We are not under siege. Our state is free. If there is any problem in the state, I know quite well that Nigerians know where the problem is coming from, not from us.
“We are peace-loving people. It is already written all over us. Our actions and our deeds have confirmed that we are peace-loving people.
“We will continue to maintain the peace that we promised everyone for the betterment of the good people of Rivers state.”
