Governor Siminalayi Fubara has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he cannot win all fights.
The governor offered the advice to his predecessor on a Channels Television programme: “Politics Today,” where he featured on Monday.
Fubara said that Wike should by now realise that he has lost the battle for the soul of Rivers State.
He said he does not regret conducting local government elections in the state on Saturday despite the resistance by Wike’s men in the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on how far he has gone to ensure peace between himself and Wike, Fubara said: “There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign.
“I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go.
“I have done everything.”
Asked what his message to Wike would be if they met, Fubara said: “I’ll tell him (Wike) that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go.
“We need peace in this state.
“You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights.
“At times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state.
“We need to secure the state.
“Fubara will leave tomorrow.
“Who knows who is going to come?
“It might be through him or another person but we need to secure the state.”
Fubara, noting that election periods are over, said it is time for governance, urging the Minister of the FCT to give peace a chance.
He said: “What I am appealing is: everyone should sheath their swords.
“Even to the Minister, my oga (my boss), there is no need to destroy this state.
“He (Wike) once ruled this state and the state was an envy of every other state.
“Another person is there now.
“What we need now is the support.
“After four or eight years.
“Who knows?
“I will also leave and someone else will take over.
“That should be the spirit.
“When it comes to the election period, you can fight and do whatever, but now is the time for governance.
“We need all the support.”
Fubara said all Nigerians know that he has no hand in the destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers State.
The governor noted that he sounded the alarm on Sunday evening when he swore in 23 newly-elected LG chairpersons in the state that some aggrieved political actors had mobilised to destabilise the peace of the state on Monday.
