Fubara: If there’s any problem in Rivers, Nigerians know where it’s coming from

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State says the state is peaceful despite the ongoing crisis in Local Government Areas.

Following the violence which erupted across Rivers on Tuesday, the state police command took over all the 23 Local Government Council headquarters.

Supporters of the governor and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, clashed at various secretariats on Tuesday.

At Eberi-Omuma in Omuma Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, a policeman and a member of a local security outfit were killed.

The clash occurred over the reluctance of the former council chairmen to quit at the end of their tenure on Monday.

The former chairmen said they would continue in office because the Pro-Wike faction of the Rivers House of Assembly had extended their tenure by 6 months over the failure of Fubara to conduct a fresh local government election.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday in Egbelu Community, shortly after inspecting the progress of work on the 14.6km Omodu-Eberi Road project in Omuma Local Government Area (LGA), Governor Fubara said the recent “negative narrative” that portrays the oil-rich state as immersed in crisis is untrue, misguided and was the handiwork of mischief makers.

The governor said it was important that Nigerians know of the uninterrupted peaceful atmosphere in the state.

He said If there is any problem in any part of the state, Nigerians know who to blame.

Governor Fubara said: “And to also tell Nigerians that 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 sets that police are everywhere, that we don’t move about anymore, and that Rivers State is under siege.

“We are not under siege. Our State is free and peaceful. If at all there is any problem in any part of 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.”