Fubara urges pro-Wike lawmakers to embrace peace, obey Supreme Court ruling

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday urged the state House of Assembly to embrace peace and prioritise the interest of the state in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement.

He made the call at the inauguration of the 85-year-old Okrika Grammar School in the Okrika Local Government Area of the state.

The governor stressed that it was important for all stakeholders to embrace peace at this stage of the political crisis in the state.

The governor and members of the Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have been battling for control of the state since September 2023.

The disagreement culminated in the defection of 27 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) the same year.

Angered by the defection, the governor and his party approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare their seats vacant and conduct fresh elections in their constituencies.

Efforts to resolve the crisis have met a brickwall with both parties refusing to shift grounds on the crisis.

Fubara said: “The Supreme Court has made its judgment, we don’t have any option than to abide by it.”

READ ALSO: Impeaching Fubara is not a criminal offence, Wike declares

“The other party to the Supreme Court judgment, the Rivers State House of Assembly, needed to know that they are also to comply with the ruling.

‘’And do so with commitment that prioritises the interest of the state.

“And by the special grace of God, we have started the process; we are appealing to other parties to consider the interest of Rivers State, it is important.

“The only thing that we owe this state is peace and development. I am open any day, any time for total peace in our state.

‘’Because if I have to govern well, there is need for peace to prevail.”

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