Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State says the red biro which his political enemies sought to take from him is still in his possession.
Mr Fubara stated this at the crossover Church Service at St Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town on the New Year’s Eve in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he hails from.
His comments gave credence to unconfirmed reports that he was at loggerheads with his predecessor and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the state treasury and was not allowed to sign payments above N5 million without the consent and approval of the former governor who installed him as his successor.
Urging residents not to be afraid in a video posted on X, a micro-blogging platform formerly known as Twitter, the governor said his adversaries have all failed.
“I want to urge every one of us here, don’t be frightened,” he said, dipping his hand into his breast pocket and pulling out a biro. Pointing it to the congregation, he added, “What they want is this red biro. It is still with me.”
The governor, in a sonorous voice, said, “They have failed,” eliciting an applause from the people who were listening to him.
“We are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro. As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers State,” he added.
The feud between him and Mr Wike degenerated to battering of the state assembly which is now factionalised.
President Bola Tinubu brokered a peace deal with the duo, a development that led to the resignation of Ehie Edison, as speaker of lawmakers loyal to the governor and member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to pave way for the return of Pro-Wike lawmakers who lost their seats on accounts of defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Part of the peace deal is the payment of rights and privileges of the defected lawmakers, a sacrifice Mr Fubara said was not too much for the restoration of peace.
