Former Bayelsa state governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, has shared his experience after visiting the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt.
Dickson in his official Facebook Page said Fubara told him that he was confident in institutions and the leadership of the country to do the right thing.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West appreciated Fubara’s calmness and peaceful disposition in the midst of unprecedented turbulence.
Dickson said: “We discussed the extreme political developments in the state in the last couple of weeks. I appreciated his calmness and peaceful disposition in the midst of unprecedented turbulence.
“In our frank conversation, which was private, he expressed confidence in the ability of the institutions and leadership of the country to do what is right, and so do I”.
The senator commended the people of the state for maintaining peace and order amidst what he described as a rare and extreme political development, but warned that though everywhere in the state seemed calm it could be the peace of the graveyard and any little trigger could alter the balance of peace across the Niger Delta region.
He said: “In this regard, I want to appeal to all our people, the youths of Rivers State, and in particular the youths of Ijaw Nation, in Rivers State and across the Niger Delta, from Arugbo in Ondo State, to Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State, to continue to be peaceful and resist any provocation or incitement to violence.
“They should refrain from violence and destructive tendencies, particularly the destruction and vandalization of strategic oil and gas infrastructure in the region, which has the tendency to cause further pollution-damage to our already compromised environment, slow down the pace of economic development and activities in the region, and create fiscal challenges for government at all levels in the country, especially at this time when the global economy is experiencing unprecedented instability with consequences for all nations.
“On account of the above, I urge all stakeholders to place the overall well-being of Rivers state, its people, the Niger Delta region and the entire country in their decisions, utterances and actions.”
Dickson urged the Rivers Sole Administrator, whom he described as a highly decorated and respected military veteran from the Niger Delta region, to refrain from actions that would not build confidence and aid the quick and amicable resolution of the crisis.
He commended the security forces for keeping peace in the region and urged them to continue to work with stakeholders and constituted authorities in Rivers and across the Niger Delta region.
Dickson called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on stakeholders, especially the FCT Minister and Fubara to find a common ground for tolerance and accommodation for a quick resolution.
He said: “We must learn to tolerate and manage one another in spite of our imperfections and always remember the unique relationship they have built over the years, which has led to the emergence of the governor. It is always the divine prerogative of fathers to tolerate and forebear for the overall interest of all.
“On the part of the President, I would like to state that the Ijaw Nation is not at war with the Federal Government or with the President, and we are looking up to him as the leader of the nation to lead in the resolution of the issues and restore normalcy and democratic rule. I call on all leaders from the Niger Delta both at the State and National level to play an active part in the resolution of this issue.
“The Ijaw Nation is not at war with the President or the APC-led Federal Government. On the contrary the Niger Delta and the Ijaw Nation have always stood for a restructured and truly federal Nigeria where power is properly devolved, accelerated infrastructure and human capital development, environmental justice and fairness for all, and an inclusive Nigeria. On all these issues, we are encouraged to see the President as a partner from his antecedence and not a foe irrespective of party differences as some may portray.”
