• Office of governor desecrated by agreement – Inko-Tariah
From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The National Leader of South-South Chiefs and Elder, Omubo Harry, has called on the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to be careful about the sacrifice he would pay to enthrone peace in the state.
The elder statesman gave the advice on the heels of the governor’s statement at the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, where h said he would continue to pay any sacrifice so long as Rivers State would be at peace.
Harry expressed concerns about the worrying situation in Rivers, stressing that the incumbent governor should not pay sacrifice that would mortgage the future of Rivers people.
He advised Fubara that on no account should he sign any agreement under duress whether in his interest or the state.
Speaking further, the traditional ruler advised former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike, to allow his successor pilot the affairs of the state.
Harry said: Nobody should take anyone for granted. As long as governance is concerned, rulership is turn-by-turn. And, if Nyesom Wike term is over, he should allow Sim Fubara to manage the affairs of the state accordingly, since there was no interference during his (Wike) years as governor.
“We, the chiefs and elders of this state are specifically saying that there should not be any form of intimidating or signing any agreement under duress. Nyesom Wike has served his tenure for eight years. Nobody monitored his leadership or governance. So also, he should allow his successor to do his work. Rivers State belongs to all of us. Rulership is turn-by-turn. Taking Siminalayi Fubara to Abuja to sign an agreement is not the best.
“He should do the needful. He should not be intimidated by personality form of temptation. My advice for him is some sacrifice to do may be dangerous to human health and for the interest of the state. His sacrifice must be in accordance with healthy sacrifice. You cannot over sacrifice to the detriment to Rivers people.
“As a traditional ruler of the state, Nyesom Wike has served eight years as governor and nobody monitored or interrupted him. He should also allow Siminalayi Fubara to complete his tenure without any hitch or any form of intimidation.
Similarly, a social crusader and former Chief Press Secretary to a former governor, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, has condemned the agreement and said Rivers people will not accept desecration of the office of the governor.
Reacting to the trending agreement, Inko-Tariah lambasted the former governor and said that Siminalayi Fubara should be allowed to exercise his power as a governor.
According to him, issues contained in the agreement purportedly signed by the incumbent were meant to deny him his constitutional recognition and power as governor.
He said: “That was an agreement that was reached under duress. I wouldn’t want to say he (Fubara) was ambushed, but it was under duress.
“I want to fault that agreement. This is a sitting governor and you are telling him that he shall reappoint those commissioners that voluntarily resigned from his cabinet. That is a condition precedent to peace. In order words, you are foisting the commissioners on the governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has said if his government survives the current political crisis, much attention would be paid to providing quality education and affordable healthcare to Rivers people.
He spoke at PAMO University of Medical Sciences, where he was the Visitor, stressing that he would keeping on sacrificing for the state to ensure lasting peace.
He commended former governor Peter Odili, the Pro-Chancellor of the institution who, by his concerns, made it possible for him to stand to address the audience as a governor.
Fubara expressed: “Please, take highly care of yourself, just like I do, not minding the situation around my life now. No matter what satan throws at you.
“As a government, the provision of quality education and affordable healthcare services are two vital priorities of my administration if we are still surviving it.
“While some progresses have been made which we have said, you felt, it is obvious that a lot still need to be done to change our collective aspirations for universal access to quality education and healthcare delivery.
“For me is a pleasure to be here to witness, to honour and celebrate the graduation of the first set of medical doctors that passed through this prestigious institution.
“First, let me thank the board of trustee and governing council for this kind of invitation, it means a lot to me especially at this particular period of my life where I am the governor.
“You know, it is said, live your life everyday because you don’t know what will happen in the next minute. If we are still standing by the special grace of God, we are increasing the scholarship from 100 to 150. Let me use this opportunity to ask the school authority to extend that present list of 100 to 150.
“Let me at this point humbly appreciate and most sincerely thank our political father and leader, Dr. Peter Odili, I am even surprised he still got up this morning after our journey yesterday.
“Let me at this point thank everybody for your prayers. I need to say this because I am in a live television and people are watching. Let me say this to my dear State, I call you my dear because the support you have shown me within this period is immeasurable. I want you to know that there is no amount that is too big to pay for peace. I will continue to pay it.”