A former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has asked Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to work together for the good of the people of Rivers State.
Jonathan called for the truce today, Monday, during the flag-off of the Trans-Kalabari Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He described the political tension in Rivers State as worrisome.
The state has been in a year-long political crisis since Wike, now the FCT Minister, and Fubara, his successor as governor, fell out.
According to Jonathan, “Outgoing governors and incoming governors must know that they work together for the collective interest of the citizens of the state and that is critical.’
‘Too noisy at state level’
He continued: “In the case of Rivers, Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara must work together to develop the land and people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“So, I urge political actors; you must work together if you love the Rivers people.
“I join the leaders of Rivers State and the well-meaning Nigerians that have been calling for truce and ceasefire, to also reemphasise that there is a need for a ceasefire.
“Let us do things that would rather project the state.
“We are calling on them (Wike and Fubara) 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.”
“Rivers State is very critical in this country. Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. If River State is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised,” Jonathan told the gathering.
“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 and we don’t want any crisis in Rivers State.
“Transition in Nigeria is becoming a problem. At the centre, presidents have taken over from presidents. There are always issues
“But at the state level, it is becoming noisy and I feel that that is not the best,” Jonathan added.
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