The Rivers House of Assembly, aligned with Mr. Wike, recently curtailed Governor Fubara’s authority to appoint officials for local councils in the state.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has revealed the toll that the political crisis in the region is exacting on his emotional well-being.
A fierce power struggle between Mr. Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the FCT minister, has ensnared governance and politics in the oil-rich state.
In a significant move, the Rivers House of Assembly, demonstrating allegiance to Mr. Wike, stripped Governor Fubara of his ability to appoint officials for local councils. This rift has even led members of Governor Fubara’s cabinet to pledge their loyalty to Mr. Wike.
“I feel heavy in my spirit. It’s not been easy, I can say it,” Mr Fubara said on Sunday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, at a thanksgiving service to celebrate the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed his election as Rivers governor.
The occurrence aligned with the 49th birthday celebration of the governor and was commemorated during a live-streamed service on Facebook.
Originating from Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Fubara provided this background during the event.
Addressing the congregation, Mr. Fubara conveyed the hardships his family faces due to the ongoing political crisis in the state.
He remarked on the noticeable absence of several individuals, hinting at figures like Mr. Wike, who currently serves as the FCT minister, suggesting their non-participation in the thanksgiving service.
“I want to ask a question. When I look at your faces, I see so much excitement, I see happiness. But the question is, am I happy? That is the question, am I happy?
“Does God give you a gift or a blessing and add sorrow to it?
“No,” the congregants retorted.
“So when I look at your faces how happy you are, even when I feel heavy in my spirit. I’m encouraged to be happy. That’s how I feel. It’s 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. You can’t question the almighty. But one thing we can’t take away is that God does not make any mistakes.
“It is a glory to say thank you to God. It gives me extra energy to continue with the battle. It is a battle, but no battle can be bigger than God.”
To end the political crisis in the state, President Bola Tinubu brokered a controversial peace deal between Messrs Fubara and Wike last month.
Mr Fubara acknowledged the president’s support. The governor also acknowledged the support from his own family.
“I want to thank my family. They are suffering, that is the truth. They are suffering because of this cause. You just have to be strong and understand that after a while, you will get me back.
“Maybe, I will take the birthday happiness to make myself happier than I was when I was coming. But in all, I want to ask that you all continue to pray for peace.
“We came in, we were selected because they believe we have something to do for our state. We have not been given the opportunity to do those things that we ought to do.
“We have had a lot of distractions but I strongly believe that while we navigate the part of peace, prayer is also needed for us to pass over this phase.
“We need peace, total peace on all sides so that we can focus and deliver the dividends of democracy. And this victory I dedicate it to peace,” Governor Fubara said.
