·I did not suspend Ring Road project – Sim Fubara
By Ignatius Chukwu
After full day’s fight in Port Harcourt over attempts by lawmakers said to be loyal to ex-Gov Nyesom Wike against Gov Sim Fubara, the succeeding night was said to be sleepless.
This may have made it the third sleepless night since the impeachment saga began Saturday.
The order to impeach Fubara was said to have been made Saturday and collection of signatures began and allocation of roles in the planned war was done.
By Saturday night, many of the groups privy to the plot had no sleep, it was gathered. By Sunday, October 29, 2023, the plot had thickened. Then, an explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly seemed to announce the outbreak of hostilities.
By the next morning being Monday, all actors swung into action. The Wike group suspended the Fubara loyalists, the loyalists bounced back and suspended the Wike boys. The rest is history.
Now, it has been confirmed that mediation has been intensified between Fubara and his godfather, Wike, now FCT Minister.
An authoritative voice in the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt confirmed that elders of Rivers State have been meeting with Wike in Abuja most of Tuesday.
The voice also confirmed that meetings went on all of Monday night in Port Harcourt. Fubara is also said to be in Abuja, but he is said to be attending NEC meeting. His absence at the annual general meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Rivers/Bayelsa chapter) which he was said to have confirmed willingness to attend led to many speculations.
Port Harcourt remained calm most of Tuesday as the foot soldiers seemed to have received ceasefire signal.
Part of the ceasefire could be the statement from the State Government debunking earlier news that the N195Bn Port Harcourt Ring Road (said to be induced by Wike even from outside government) had been suspended.
Refuting the suspension, the newly sworn in Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joe Johnson, said government’s attention has been drawn to the rumour.
He said government wished to inform Rivers people and the general public to disregard such information as false. “The project is for the advancement of our state and the improvement of the economy of our dear State therefore nothing whatsoever can stop it at this stage.
“For the avoidance of doubt, 77 per cent of the contract sum has been paid and the construction firm is making frantic efforts to complete the job within schedule. Please let’s be guided as we ask information and news managers to always verify their stories before going to the public space.”
Government had earlier in the day denied sacking various layers of public servants including local council chairmen (and councilors), commissioners, etc.
Many say Aso Rock had ordered a stay at status quo order, and both camps seem willing to comply.
Several groups against full fight between Wike and Fubara have continued to rejoice over the temporary ceasefire, saying a fight would not augur well for the state.
Fears are rife that damage would be huge especially on the side of the former governor. There were also fears that should the president move to save his super minister, the pressure from the federal forces would break Gov Fubara. Ceasefire seemed mutually beneficial.
