Former National President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and former Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Comrade Igwe Achese, has declared that Rivers people remain firmly behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara, pledging their loyalty to him no matter the political direction he chooses.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE NEWS on Friday, Achese said, “Wherever His Excellency wished to drive the democratic administrations into, River’s people would definitely follow him. If he choose to remain where he is, we will stand with him. If he choose to move to any party, APC or any other party, we will stand with him.”
Achese stressed that the governor had shown rare sacrifice to secure peace in Rivers State, even at personal cost. He explained, “I lack words, honestly, to express the sacrifice being shown by his excellency over the six months of emergency rule in Rivers State.
I will tell you there is no individual, be it a governor, a member of House of Reps, who will want to accept this kind hearted sacrifice that the governor has shown to Nigeria and to Rivers people. I’ll tell you, like you rightly have heard, he stands there to say, look, no blood of Rivers citizens worth his being governor of Rivers State, and therefore he wants this peace, and this peace path is so dear to him. And that’s what we’re enjoying today in Rivers State. The state is so peaceful.”
Achese further described Governor Fubara as a unifying figure who prioritised peace above power, adding, “He’s an icon of peace today in Nigeria. He’s an icon of peace to Riva’s people. And the world at large has also seen this kind of sacrifice that can never be gotten anywhere.”
He maintained that the governor’s choice not to challenge the legality of the emergency rule was a deliberate act of sacrifice.
“Thanks to his excellency, who was not perturbed to say, look, the pressures cannot deter me in the line of peace. And if you watch all through this six-month period and his commitment, and the series of meetings he had with Mr. President, you will understand the sacrifices of this great leader,” he said.
On whether the governor’s decision had served Rivers people and democracy, Achese remarked, “No, no, let me be honest. History is made as long as our democratic system and settings are consigned. But I’ll tell you, this sacrifice that was made by his excellency is the needless sacrifice to avoid the loss of lives, to avoid economic setback in Riva state.
Within this period, you will see this six-month period of investors that are still going about their businesses without being molested or being harassed. Market women were still going about their, you know, market businesses and the rest of them. So that sacrifice is so there. And that is what we are so happy and we’re so proud of, of our dear governor who has toed this path of peace.”
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for ensuring calm in the state, while applauding the governor’s demonstration of loyalty.
Referring to Fubara’s choice of words in his speech, he said, “Of course, indeed. Very interesting was, you know, a choice of words by the governor. Look, to be honest, you know what Rivers state means to the economy of Nigeria as a whole. And as such, we cannot afford to allow any crisis to take over Rivers state. And that is why we appreciate his excellency our president of this great country to have taken this step he took, to see that you know, Rivers state is peaceful.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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