The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has expressed dismay over Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent remarks during his reception of members of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He had, while speaking to NULGE members, vowed to surprise those who consider his implementation of the peace pact initiated by President Bola Tinubu, as a sign of weakness.
In a statement issued by Chibike Ikenga, the Publicity Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, the party criticized Governor Fubara’s threats and urged him to honor the Presidential Proclamation for Peace in Rivers State.
The APC emphasized the importance of commitment to peace-building efforts and urged him to fulfill the obligations outlined in the reconciliation agreement he willingly entered into.
Failure to comply, the APC warned, would hold the governor and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, accountable for any ensuing unrest.
The party called on stakeholders, including the Federal Government, the international community, and advocates of democracy, to intervene and ensure his adherence to the peace agreement.
The statement stressed the necessity for cooperation and understanding, emphasizing that threats alone cannot resolve the challenges facing the state.
The APC affirmed its commitment to pursuing legal avenues to ensure compliance with the peace agreement, placing the responsibility for fostering lasting peace squarely on Governor Fubara’s shoulders.
The statement read, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered about his address but for his threat to ‘surprise’ the people asking him to implement the Presidential Proclamation for Peace in Rivers state by the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR which Gov Fubara freely endorsed.
“Let Gov. Fubara be reminded that in the resolution of any conflict, the parties(belligerents) MUST make necessary sacrifices for peace and stability.
“If Gov. Fubara regrets reporting or asking the President to intervene to save him, which elicited the Presidential Proclamation for peace in the first place. Let him address the state by coming clear to apologize for entering into that reconciliation and opting out of it completely. “However, having entered into that agreement unfettered, he is BOUND by it and MUST follow through to the end.
“The style of issuing threats to the people for a decision he made without coercion is most disheartening.
“We wish to advise the Governor and his party-PDP, that the instability, absence of peace, lack of development, good governance, transparency and accountability have nexus with their refusal to respect the office and person of the President and commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu by implementing into to the items on the presidential proclamation.
“Gov. Fubara and his Party-PDP will be held accountable for any further breakdown of law and order engendered by his threat.
“We call on all lovers of peace, the Federal Government, the international community and lovers of Democracy to call the Governor to order.
“As a party, we shall do everything legally possible to ensure the compliance and obedience to his decision as exemplified by signing of the proclamation and its implementation.
“The buck stops at the Governor’s table and MUST take responsibility for any breaches in the build up to lasting peace and stability in our dear state. Threats alone will not solve the problem but understanding, cooperation and selflessness.”