A former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has called on the former and current governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara to work together for the good of the state. The former leader urged both men to sheathe their swords and call for a truce for the common good.
Jonathan made the call during the flag-off of the trans-Kalabari road in Obio/Akpor local government area, of the state on Monday. He described the political tension in the oil producing state as worrisome.
He noted that outgoing and incoming governors must know that they work for the collective interest of the citizens of the state, adding that it is critical for them to sheathe their swords.
“Outgoing governors and incoming governors must know that they work together for the collective interest of the citizens of the state and that is critical.”
“In the case of Rivers, Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara must work together to develop the land and people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“So, I urge political actors; you must work together if you love the Rivers people.
“I join the leaders of Rivers State and the well-meaning Nigerians that have been calling for truce and ceasefire, to also reemphasise that there is a need for a ceasefire.
“Let us do things that would rather project the state.
“We are calling on them (Wike and Fubara) to embrace themselves. One hand does not clap. It takes two hands to clap. So, we want them to work together for the collective interest.”
“Rivers State is very critical in this country. Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. If River State is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised,” Jonathan told the gathering.
“And it will not end within the Niger Delta alone because I am from this part of the country and I know how the system works and we don’t want any crisis in Rivers State.
“Transition in Nigeria is becoming a problem. At the centre, presidents have taken over from presidents. There are always issues
“But at the state level, it is becoming noisy and I feel that that is not the best,” Jonathan added in his plea to Fubara and Wike,” the former president said.
