28th December, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
A group of elders in Rivers has strongly disagreed with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his decision to accept and implement the peace deal he signed to end the political crises with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The elders voiced their opposition to the implementation of the peace deal in different petitions they sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The petitions followed the decision of Fubara to implement the peace deal in a Christmas Day broadcast to the people of the state. Fubara had said that the terms of the deal with Wike brokered by President Tinubu were not as bad as being portrayed by critics.
President Tinubu had during the visit of some Governors to him in Lagos commended the decision of the Rivers State Governor to implement the deal.
But the elders, in a letter to the governor dated December 26, titled “Peace in Galilee? Open letter to Governor Siminalayi Fubara” told the Governor point-blank that he lacked the constitutional powers to implement the peace deal which they insist is unenforceable, as the documented was indeed a death sentence.
Also, in a separate letter, the elders told the President that he lacked the powers to impose the decisions contained in the peace agreement on the people of Rivers State.
In their letter to the Governor, they said, “We accept your humility as shown in your Christmas Day Broadcast of 25 December 2023, to the good people of Rivers State. However, we the people of Rivers State do not see any peace in the so-called “Mr. President’s Peace Proclamation”.
“The Forum commends Your Excellency’s honesty and sincerity in accepting that Mr. President’s Peace Proclamation “has elicited mixed reactions from our people and across the country…” Peace can only be practised in a germane, truthful and just society.
“In this case, the environment in which the peace was brokered showed no sensitivity to the people’s security, political and social interest. Mr. Governor Sir, you stated categorically that you are a principal participant in the entire saga and the Presidential Peace Proclamation is not as bad as being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.
“That proclamation is a death sentence, as it breaches all legal and constitutional rights you swore to uphold.
“The Forum believes that there could be peace in Port Harcourt and indeed the entire Rivers State if only your Excellency would be circumspect in your actions, measured in your engagements, and have a critical mind in your review of events. Therefore, Mr. Governor, you have no constitutional or any other legal power to implement the “Presidential Peace Proclamation”.
In the second letter that was addressed to President Tinubu, the elders said “ We would like to commend Your Excellency, for heeding to our call; to help mediate in the political rift between Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
“However, as a people, we are now at a loss whether your intervention has helped in quelling the crisis or escalated it. For us, as custodians of the Rivers people’s conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favour of the interest of your current Minister, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the governance of the state and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State.
“The composition and attendance showed a lack of balance between the two warring factions. 2. The faction recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Elders of Rivers State, traditional rulers, women and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting.
“The eight-point resolution or directive asked for the reinstatement of commissioners who wilfully resigned, and the 27 former legislators who in all clear conscience and by legal implication jumped the boat and got themselves dismissed from the affairs of the Assembly, should be reinstated and remunerated, smacks of a sense of political irresponsibility, lack of sensitivity to the laws of the land and due process.”
The leaders said Tinubu should take it that the Aso Rock meeting did not happen because the directives were not implementable. “To do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”
The two letters were signed by a former governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada George, Sir Gabriel T.G Toby former Deputy Governor under Dr. Peter Odili’s administration and many others.