- Says peace and stability joint responsibility of FG, states
President Bola Tinubu has commended Governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara for his efforts to peacefully resolve the political challenges in the state.
President Tinubu had in a meeting with Fubara, former governor of the state, Peter Odili, and the immediate past Governor, Nyesom Wike, and other stakeholders at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in a resolution directed that all matters instituted in the courts by the governor and his team in respect of the political crisis be withdrawn immediately.
Also, all impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor by the state House of Assembly should be dropped immediately.
He had also directed that the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by Martin Amaewhule be recognised alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP.
The President had also directed that the remunerations and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Given the inhabitable state of the Rivers State House of Assembly building, Tinubu had also directd that the lawmakers “shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interreference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government.”
Also, the President had said Fubara, who had earlier presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill of his state to four members of the Assembly “shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.”
Likewise, the President directed that the names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state “should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval” adding that “There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State” declaring the dissolution of the Local Government administration as “null and void”.
Criticism had trailed the resolutions with form and Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Edwin Clark, has said that the directives issued to Fubara were not only appalling, but also unacceptable, particularly to the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
A member of the Rivers Elders’ Forum and former Commissioner for Works, David Briggs, had alleged that President Tinubu imposed the resolution concerning the crisis in the state on Fubara without his inputs and that he signed under duress.
Fubara himself had said no price was too big to ensure peace in the state.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President while speaking during a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at his residence in Lagos on Tuesday, thanked Fubara for his statesmanship.
He said: “I thank you for your statesmanship. I listened to your broadcast and your emphasis on peace. It is only with peace that effective governance can thrive, and governance has commenced in earnest under my watch,” he said.
The President said that the federal and sub-national governments of Nigeria have the mutual responsibility of ensuring the country’s peace and stability.
While addressing the governors, he issued a stern directive to security agencies to halt the carnage in Plateau State and intensify the pursuit of those responsible for the recent tragic events in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas.
Condoling with the victims, he emphasised the sanctity of human life and called for a paradigm shift among those with contrary beliefs, cautioning them about the inevitable consequences of their actions.
“Nigeria needs peace and stability to move forward. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we have to take care of it,” he said.
On the 2024 Budget proposals before the National Assembly, President Tinubu informed the governors that he had a review meeting earlier in the day on certain elements in the Appropriation Bill, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
He emphasised the need for joint responsibility and closer collaboration between the federal and sub-national governments to foster rapid infrastructural development in every part of the nation.
“I want us to discard federal, state, or rural road classifications. We must regard development as a joint responsibility. Let us prioritise our children. The school feeding programme must return quickly, beginning from the local government to the state and federal governments.
“We must be ready to protect our children and prepare them for the future,” he stated.
Chairman of NGF and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Plateau State.
“May God be with the souls of the departed and bring peace to Plateau State. The Governor of Plateau State, we are with you; stay strong,” he said.
Abdulrazaq reaffirmed state governments’ support for the bold decisions and reforms initiated by President Tinubu’s administration.
“These are challenging times. It is not a walk in the park. Removing fuel subsidies had a great structural effect on the economy of the states. But we are confident that we will overcome these challenges and bounce back better,” he said.