Without President Tinubu, Wike Would Have Removed Me – Rivers Governor Fubara

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has hailed the role President Bola Tinubu has played in preserving his stay as governor saying without the president, he would have been removed as governor.

Fubara, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a product of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike also acknowledged the political fight between him and Wike has been troubling for his family which he declared “are suffering.”

He was appointed top accounting officer of Rivers during the Wike administration and was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial fraud.

He went into hiding as Wike provided him the shield until he emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP.

He occasionally appeared in public during the campaign which he scarcely participated in as Wike took charge.

But a few months after he took over as governor, the relationship deteriorated, leading to Wike leading a group of state lawmakers on an impeachment move which the governor successfully fought.

It took the president’s intervention for tension to go down, which the governor acknowledged on Sunday preserved his stay in office.

He did not say what specific role the president played, if his role included his victory in court or it was limited to the two parleys he held with him and his predecessor which led to the signing of a peace accord that he must honour for the sake of peace with Wike.

Lauding the president’s role on Sunday during a special thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area following his victory at the Supreme Court on Thursday, the governor said, “When I look at your faces, even when I feel heavy in my spirit, I’m encouraged to be happy.

“It has not been easy, I can say it. A lot of people who started this journey with us ought to have been here with us but unfortunately they are not here. God knows why. We can’t question the Almighty.

“But one thing we can’t take away is that God does not make any mistake. Whatever happens, when it happens, it is for a purpose,” he said.

He added that, “I’m happy to return this glory to God Almighty, to say thank you God, and give me extra energy to continue with the battle. But no battle can be bigger than God.

“I want to thank God first, our dear President, he’s been great and wonderful father. He has supported and I can say it without being economical with the truth that we are standing here is because of his support,” the governor said.

He added that, “I want to thank again, my family. They are suffering, that’s the truth because of this cause.

“You just have to be strong and understand that after a while you’ll get me back. But for now, these people are the ones that own me.

“I want to thank our leaders that are here and the ones that are not here for all your support, before this journey started, while the journey was on and also now, that we have gotten victory to validate your mandate.

“I want to thank specially, the good people of Rivers State who remained firm in the face of provocation to say we stand by the truth.

“You might not have any title. You might not have any name but you have a very wonderful name (fill a space) in my heart and God knows what you’ve done and will bless you for it,” he added.

He stressed that, “We came in, we were selected because they believed we have something that we will do for our State. We have not been given the opportunity to do those things that we ought to do for our State.

“We have had a lot of distractions but I strongly believe that while we navigate the path of peace, prayer is also needed for us to pass over this phase. Continue to put us in your prayers. There is nothing that God cannot do,” the governor said.