Mixed reactions greet end of emergency rule in Rivers

The lifting of emergency rule in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu has triggered mixed reactions from stakeholders in the state. Tinubu on Wednesday announced the end of emergency rule in Rivers, and reinstated Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the state assembly after six months of suspension. A Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs, described the announcement as expected but raised concerns over the uncertainties surrounding Fubara’s return to full constitutional duties. She said that Rivers people were expecting Fubara to return as governor and perform his constitutional duties without being gagged. “Until the governor is allowed to freely carry out constitutional responsibilities, we cannot say exactly what the lifting of suspension portends,” Briggs said. The activist said that the six months period of emergency rule was characterised by project abandonment, poor performance and undemocratic practices. Briggs further stated that the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers inflicted incalculable losses on the people. She said that Rivers people would demand accountability for the period the state was governed under emergency rule. Darlington Nwauju, a factional Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, commended Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule, and reinstating Fubara. READ ALSO: Fubara resumes today as Tinubu ends controversial emergency rule in Rivers state Nwauju however, said that the state witnessed unprecedented poor governance and mismanagement of resources during the six months period. “Rivers was poorly managed during the past six months. The sanitary condition alone reflected absence of governance. Workers experienced delayed salary payments,” he said. He said that the emergency rule period had left Fubara with the huge tasks of restoring confidence, improving infrastructure, and re-establishing investor confidence. “The state did not attract any foreign direct investment during the emergency rule period, but we must move on now that democracy is back in action,” he said. PLEASE READ: People, privations and public policy priorities Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President, Ijaw National Congress, said that although the emergency rule had been lifted, the state was taken several years backwards. He claimed that no fewer than 10,000 jobs were lost during the six months of emergency rule in the oil-rich state According to him, suspending the governor, his deputy and the legislature handed absolute power to a sole administrator and undermined  democratic principles. Analysts say that although the lifting of emergency rule has ended uncertainties, questions remain concerning the political climate that awaits Fubara as he returns to office. They suggest that sincere reconciliation between the governor and other political stakeholders will determine the pace of recovery.

‘We are sorry,’ Fubara’s kinsmen apologise to Wike

The Elders Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party has apologised to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the ongoing rift between him and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara. The elders, led by the Executive Director of Finance at the Niger Delta Development Commission, Boma Iyaye, apologised to Wike on Saturday at the Rivers State Ijaw Peoples Congress organised in his honour in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Iyaye stated that the Ijaw people were sorry for the embarrassment and public display of disregard for the minister by Fubara. He said, “On behalf of our people, we are apologising to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. We are sorry because it is not in our nature to pay evil for good. You have done well for us, and we will continue to say thank you. “Your Excellency, do not, because of this bad behaviour of our son, run away from us. Continue to be our brother. Continue to have us in mind. We have never set our feet on the number one seat of Rivers State. You made it possible for us to become the governor of Rivers State.” The Chairman of the Elders Forum, PDP Rivers State, Ferdinard Anabraba, berated the Fubara government, saying that the Ijaw nationality would not forget Wike. “The aberration we are seeing in the administration of Rivers State is only a demonstration of lack of political discharge of an individual, and by no means the opinion of Ijaw people. “We, the Ijaw, see you as the light of Rivers State. You are indeed a notable strategist in Nigeria’s contemporary politics. And without doubt, you are the most celebrated Ijaw politician of national recognition,” he said.