Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers State has warned outgoing local government chairmen against formenting trouble or inflicting injuries on anyone while expressing their support for his estranged predecessor Nyesom Wike.
Mr Wike, who is now the federal capital territory minister, has been at loggerheads with his political godson and successor. Their rift polarised the state legislature into different factions.
Some members of the state executive council who are loyal to the minister have resigned while outgoing council chairmen have continued heaping insults on the state helmsman.
Warning them on Thursday during the flag-off of the construction of Elele-Omoku Road, Mr Fubara said he received reports that his supporters were attacked after he left a gathering, somewhere in the state.
“When we left Aleso the other day, some people went there and attacked our people. There is no need for it. Nobody has the monopoly of violence,” the governor said. “I should even be the one who should come and shout that I will do this, I will do that, but I don’t need to do that because both sides belong to me.
“So, I am advising those people who call themselves local government chairmen, you have a few days in office, please conduct yourselves. Politic will come, politics will go – we will still live our lives.
“Let anyone not deceive you, if you deliberately hurt anybody in the cause of expressing your useless support, nobody will forgive you, you will pay for it. So, I’m begging everyone, please conduct yourselves,” he added.
Describing himself as the most insulted state governor in the country, Mr Fubara said he decided to overlooked for peace to reign despite the provocation.
“As a matter of fact, I am the most abused, ‘mumu governor wey no know wetin to do with power’, (sic). Is it not? Have I said anything? So, please just endure until when you finish you go your way, I don’t’ want any trouble,” he said.
