By METROWATCH
Eight months after the demolition of a choice property belonging to Bayelsa State by former Governor Nyesom Wike, incumbent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has paid a New Year courtesy visit on his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Duoye Diri. The demolished property was one of the reasons the Rivers governor took a New Year ride to Bayelsa.
Wike had pulled down the house located at Akasa Street in the Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt.
Wike’s action was seen by many as vindictive against Bayelsa following Diri’s support for Atiku Abubakar during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary against Wike, who was also a presidential aspirant at the primaries.
Wike, now FCT minister, is currently at daggers drawn with his successor, Fubara. Fubara and Diri are from the same Ijaw ethnic flock and under the cover of the Ijaw brotherhood and may not be a bad idea to seek new friends after a failed impeachment move against him that was believed to have been masterminded by Wike.
Following the visit, Fubara and Diri have reached a pact to amicably resolve all cases concerning property jointly owned by both states that are pending in courts.
It would be recalled that before Bayelsa was created out of Rivers State that both states had property in common like the Hotel Presidential, Airport Hotel and other facilities. The Bayelsa State Government House in Rivers was also demolished.
However, Wednesday, the governor of Rivers State, Fubara, paid a New Year’s visit to Senator Douye Diri at his country home in Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Governor also visited with some prominent leaders of the State to underscore the importance of the unification meeting that should open a new chapter between the two states in renewing their brotherhood and never allow administrative boundary issues to create animosity between them anymore, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Boniface Onyedi.
Speaking, Fubara expressed strong desire for mutual cooperation among the states, adding that the things jointly owned by both state that are in Rivers would be resolved amicably.
He said: “The purpose of my presence today is not a mere visit, but a reunification meeting. Our visit is to let our brother know that we want to work together for a common purpose and the development of both States.
“We have a lot of things in Rivers State that are jointly owned by both states. I know we have not had this kind of meeting before, but we desire that from this particular moment, whatever the issues are, let us look for a way to settle them amicably so that we can forge ahead.
“I have always said that we cannot attain development in the face of crisis. We cannot help one another in a situation of anarchy. Peace is the major ingredient for development.”
Fubara commended Senator Diri and the people of Bayelsa State for their show of solidarity with his administration amidst the political crisis that erupted in Rivers State.
He told his Bayelsa counterpart that if he accepts the brotherly handshake extended to him, then he would not sneeze in isolation because they would be stronger together as they forge ahead as one people, acknowledging the fatherly role played by President Bola Tinubu in mediating the Rivers political crisis.
Fubara reiterated his commitment to continue to support the administration of President Tinubu because if there is no peace in Rivers State, the national economy will surely suffer.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, commended Rivers State counterpart for the visit and his initiative towards a mutually beneficial working arrangement with Bayelsa State.
Diri recalled the ongoing legal issues at the Nigerian Supreme Court over the disputed Soku oil wells and the Bayelsa House that was demolished in Rivers State while pledging willingness to ensure that they work together as brothers.
*Additional report by: VANGUARD
