By Yusuf Olukokun
Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State’s Governor, has openly criticised the behavioural approach of the House of Assembly members toward his administration.
According to Channels Television, the Governor made this known on Monday while addressing the delegation of political and traditional elders from Bayelsa at Government House in Port Harcourt, when they paid him a visit in other to quench the disagreement between both states and also improve political relationships between them.
During the meeting, Fubara, Rivers State Governor said the Rivers State House of Assembly would have stopped existing if he wished, if not for the peacekeeping models President Bola Tinubu enjoined him to embark on.
Channels also reported others who were on the delegation including the first Military Governor of old Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Traditional Ruler of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, other Traditional Rulers, former Commissioners, former State and National Assembly members and some PDP executives.
Speaking further, Fubara, informed the delegation which was led by Former Governor of Bayelsa State and the current Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Dickson, that he is the one withdrawing from escalating the political conflict happening within the state. He also stated that despite the power he wields, he is still acting like a big brother against attacks he has been facing.
“Those group of men who claim that are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating. That is the truth. There was nothing in that Peace Accord that’s a constitutional issue; it’s a political solution to a problem. And I accepted it because these were people that were eating in my house, these were people I have helped paid their children’s school fees when I wasn’t even a governor. So, what is the thing there?
“We might have our division but I believe that one day, we could also come together but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our state”, he said.
He promised to continue to be peaceful, while acknowledging the fact that power is transient.