On Monday, the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, called on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, to call a truce on their raging political feud that is threatening the peace, security, and progress of the state.
Jonathan made the call while flagging off the construction of the multi-billion-naira Trans-Kalabari Road project at the Nkpor-Aker Road Roundabout, Rumuolumeni community in Obio/Akpor Local Government.
He warned that the continuation of the fight could snowball into a bigger regional and national challenge with greater consequences and urged a cessation of hostilities for the growth and development of rivers.
He noted that the transition of governments in Nigeria was usually associated with problems and crises and explained that at the centre, where presidents have taken over from presidents, it has been better managed, but regretted that it was worse at the state level, warning that it was not the best.
Former President Jonathan emphasised that outgoing governors and incoming ones must know that they have to work together for the collective interest of the citizenry of their states, urging them to address their minds to the need for such mutual acceptance.
He stated, “In this case of Rivers, Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara must work together for the development of the land and the people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“Rivers State is very critical in this country. Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. If Rivers State is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised, and it will not end within the Niger Delta alone because I am from this part of the country and I know how the system works. We don’t want any crisis in Rivers State.”
He went on: “Leaders must know that nobody takes 100 per cent. You must learn the principle of give and take. So, our political actors must work together if you love the Rivers people.
“And I join the leaders of Rivers State and well-meaning Nigerians who have been calling for a truce, who have been calling for a ceasefire, to also re-emphasise that there is a need for a ceasefire. Let us do things that will rather project this state positively.”
Speaking further, the former president made reference to a common saying that ‘when two elephants fight, the grass suffers’ stating that both the Governor and the Minister were young people, “very young people, but they are powerful, and if you continue to fight, Rivers people will suffer. We don’t want the Rivers people to suffer.”
“So, we are calling on them to embrace themselves. One hand does not clap. It takes two hands to clap. So, we want them to work together for the collective interest of the Rivers people.
“Whatever has happened has passed. Let us move to a new phase for the interest of the state, for the interest of the Niger Delta, and indeed, for the interest of the country,” he added.
Former President Jonathan commended Governor Fubara for his vision, commitment, and courage to take up the construction of such a road that has numerous benefits, including making movement easy, enhancing response time to security issues, and promoting integration and economic growth.
He said, “When I was asked to come and flag off this project, I felt that it is only a person who has vision and the commitment to develop his people that can do this.
“Your Excellency, let me commend you for your vision and the courage to start this project. In fact, it is not going to be a tea party. If you must develop a nation, region, or state, there are critical elements that count. These are good road networks, airports, rail, and water transport systems, as well as security,” he said.
He said that by providing these enablers, development would thrive in the state, and he thanked the governor for daring to dream big and venture into projects that previous administrations had avoided.
Earlier, Governor Fubara had assured that his administration was determined to deliver the Trans-Kalabari Road project to stimulate socio-economic activities benefiting rural communities for the overall development of the state.
He advised the people to buy into the project and ensure that they ward off any form of sabotage that may delay or frustrate the timely completion of the project.
The governor said he understood the difficult swampy terrain that the road would traverse and the associated cost but has decided to embark on it, which signals the driving principle of his administration to put the wellbeing and advancement of the people first.
He maintained that there was money saved from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and federal allocations to fund the project to completion without borrowing, which is why 30 per cent of the contract sum has already been paid to mobilise the contract to the site in order to deliver on schedule.
The governor said, “When we went for a campaign in the three local government areas of Kalabari Kingdom, we promised you that if you give us your votes and we succeed, we will embark on the Trans-Kalabari Road.
“And that is what we have come to do today. We are a government; when we make promises, we keep them. I don’t want to talk about politics on this project. I want us to look at the facts. It is a difficult terrain; it is going to be expensive, but we are equal to the task.”
“Let me also say it for record purposes: We are not going to borrow to embark on this project. We have saved, and we are using our savings to pay off the cost, which we have already covered with the 30 per cent initial advance payment. So, the contractor has no reason to delay, but to start off the project immediately,” he stated.
The Governor appealed to the Rumuolumeni people to give the contractor the necessary support to enable them to take off without much ado, while also urging the Kalabari Kingdom to give the necessary support so that the project will be delivered without any sabotage.
He also thanked the former President, Jonathan, for accepting to perform the flag-off of the project because he understood the magnitude of the project and the specific transportation needs that it would address.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE