Governor Fubara says legislators insist on Wike-approved meetings
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday said he had endured “too much suffering” in the state’s prolonged political crisis because he chose not to publicly narrate his own side of the story.
Speaking at the commissioning of the extended and dualised Ahoada–Omoku Road in Rivers West Senatorial District, handled by Julius Berger, the governor also accused former Head of Service, Rufus Godwins Nwaeke, of being “paid or coerced to lie” against him.
Fubara further explained why he has not met with the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the State House of Assembly since the crisis escalated, saying the lawmakers were only willing to attend meetings arranged by former governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
‘I made efforts, but they refused to meet me’
Addressing the crowd, Fubara said he had “no personal issue” with members of the National Assembly or the state legislature, but insisted that the lawmakers had refused his direct overtures.
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According to him, “I have made every effort to meet with them. But they do not want me to call them directly. They said any meeting must be arranged by my leader. Up till now, that meeting has not been fixed.”
The governor maintained that allegations claiming he deliberately avoided the lawmakers were “pure lies,” insisting that he had shown willingness to meet all their demands in the interest of peace.
“I don’t want to go behind our leaders so that it won’t appear as if I’m trying to divide the house. I am a gentleman and a principled person,” he said.
‘I suffered because nobody heard my side’
Fubara, visibly emotional, said his silence throughout the crisis had been costly.
“I have suffered too much because of a single story. A lot has happened, and nobody has heard my own side,” he stated, stressing that he was still waiting for a meeting to be formally scheduled with the lawmakers.
He appealed for unity, saying: “We need to come together for the interest of this state. It is not about me, it is about Rivers State.”
Road project fulfilled a campaign promise — Fubara
The governor said the Ahoada–Omoku road project was executed in fulfillment of a campaign pledge, adding that the people of the area supported both his administration and President Bola Tinubu during the elections.
“We made a promise that if you support us and vote for us and for Mr President too, we would extend the road to Omoku. Today we are here to say that promise made is promise kept,” he said.
Why I left the PDP for the APC
Fubara also addressed his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the move was not driven by personal interest but by the need to stabilise governance in the state.
“We can’t thrive in an atmosphere of rancour. Development cannot come when there is continuous disunity. We are standing today because of the support of Mr President,” he added.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda “is here with a vigour you cannot imagine,” pledging to take its programmes to every community in the state.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
