Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says there was nothing wrong in one helping another person but that does not mean the helper should take the place of God.
Fubara said as long as he was concerned, God will remain God, who could sometimes cause one’s enemy to be willing vessel to bring about one’s promotion in life.
The governor said this when he received on courtesy visit from the Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former governor of the State, Senator Seriake Dickson, at Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Fubara has been in a rift with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who was believed to be instrumental in the governor’s emergence in the 2023 general election.
He said: “God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it. It is only for us to realise that. God will not come down from Heaven but will pass through one man or woman to achieve His purpose.
“So, for that reason, when we act, we act as humans; human vessels that God has used, and not seeing yourself as God.
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“I want to say this clearly that we appreciate the role our leaders, most especially the immediate past governor, played. But that is not enough for me to worship a human being. I can’t do that.”
Governor Fubara further took a swipe at Martin Amaewhule-led group of lawmakers, saying they do not exist anymore as lawmakers in the eyes of the law.
Fubara added: “Let me say it here, those group of men who claim that they are assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record.
“I accepted that peace accord to give them a floating (soft-landing). That’s the truth. There is nothing in that peace accord that is a constitutional issue. It is a political solution to a problem. I accepted it because these are people that were visiting me and we were together in my house.
“These are people that I have helped in many ways when I wasn’t even a governor. Yes, we might have our disagreements, but I believe that one day, we could also come together. That was the reason I did it.
“But I think it has gotten to a time when I need to make a statement on this thing, so that they understand that they are not existing. Their existence and whatever they have been doing is because I allowed them to do so. If I don’t recognize them, they are nowhere, that is the truth.
“So, I want you to see the sacrifice I have made to allow peace to be in our state. I can say here, with all amount of boldness, I have never called any police man anywhere to go and harass anybody.
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“I have never gone anywhere to ask anybody to do anything against anybody. But what happens to the people that are supporting me? They are being harassed, they are being arrested and detained. There is no week that somebody doesn’t come here with one letter of invitation for trump-up charges and all those things.
“I am saying all these because of what my senior said here: restrain. I don’t think the other party has shown any restrain. I am the one that has shown restrain in the face of this crisis.
“I am the one that is badly hit, even when I have all the government instruments to shake up the table. But, why will I do it? I believe that peace is the best relationship to cultivate.”
Governor Fubara, however, thanked the delegation for coming to solidarise with him and his government, noting that there is no complete Rivers State without Bayelsa State and vice versa, which demands that they continue to work together for development.
On his part, the leader of the delegation, Dickson, said their visit was one of solidarity with Fubara and people of Rivers State who he said have shown maturity in the face of the political crisis for stability and development to thrive.
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