•Muslim leaders pay him Eid-el-fitri visit  

•Opobo monarch calls for dialogue 

•Group tells Tinubu to end anarchy in state

Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured residents that the ongoing political crisis in the state would ultimately strengthen the people and not weaken them.

Fubara made the statement when he received Muslim leaders from 20 Islamic-based groups, including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, at his private residence in Port Harcourt, during an Eid-el-Fitri Sallah visit.

The Amanayabo of Opobo and Treaty King, Dandeson Douglas Jaja V, in his intervention yesterday, emphasised the importance of resolving the ongoing crisis in the state through dialogue for the well-being of the people.

But a pressure group under the aegis of Supreme Council for Sim (Worldwide) urged President Bola Tinubu to end the anarchy in Rivers State.

Addressing the delegation of Muslim leaders, Fubara urged them and his supporters to trust in God’s process.

He said, “This season is one of love, sharing, and sacrifice. You have come to share in our pain and have made a great sacrifice through your prayers.

“As Christians, we believe that everything happens for a purpose, and I strongly believe that this situation is leading us towards a greater purpose.”

The governor acknowledged that the current political tension might leave many feeling depressed, but emphasised that supernatural forces could be at play beyond human understanding.

“No matter what we see, we must remain steadfast. In all things, we give glory to Almighty God. I believe that, in the end, we will emerge stronger,” he added.

Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to justice and equality, stressing that his administration envisioned a society where no one was oppressed.

“We believe in egalitarianism, and if our beliefs bring us some pain, so be it. The most important thing is that we stand on the side of truth and righteousness,” he stated.

Fubara regretted that he was unable to formally reach out to the Muslim Ummah during their celebrations but promised that the relationship between religious groups and the government would be strengthened once the current uncertainties were resolved.

He assured the leaders that their pending requests would be addressed after the crisis.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the Muslim Ummah, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor declared their solidarity with Fubara, assuring him of their prayers and support as he navigates the current political challenges.

Opobo Monarch Calls for Dialogue

The Amanayabo of Opobo and Treaty King, Dandeson Douglas Jaja V, yesterday, emphasised the need to resolve the ongoing crisis in Rivers State through dialogue for the overall wellbeing of the people.

King Jaja, who was on The Morning Show, Arise TV Channel, spoke on the state of emergency declared by Tinubu, the impact of the state of emergency on the local economy, and the involvement of former Governor Nyesom Wike in the current situation.

He acknowledged the fact that while the president might have made a gaffe, the appointment of an administrator could bring stability and allow for a resolution of the ongoing issues.

“I think the action by Mr. President must be based on all the secret information and those exactly, if he’s in that part,” Jaja said.

The Amanayabo also spoke about the changes brought by the state of emergency. According to him, the most noticeable impact has been economic.

“No self-respecting investor would want to go to Rivers State that is not democratically ruled,” he stated, warning that this would result in a downturn in the local economy.

He also stated that political activities had calmed, which he believed provided an opportunity for a peace panel to step in and facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties.

Asked if he supported the state of emergency, King Jaja V   stressed the need to reform internally and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the state’s issues.

Although he refrained from directly criticising Tinubu’s decision, he acknowledged that the president likely acted on the   information made available to him at the time.

Group Tells Tinubu to End Chaos in Rivers

A pressure group under the aegis of Supreme Council for Sim (Worldwide) urged President Bola Tinubu to end an alleged state of anarchy in Rivers State.

The group made the call yesterday, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, in reaction to the ongoing political crisis in the state.

National Chairman of the council, Oji Ngofa, who spoke on behalf of the group, condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

“There is no war, no widespread violence, and no breakdown of law and order warranting emergency declaration,” Ngofa said.

The group stated that the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and the House of Assembly members was not only unlawful but also a subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government.

Supreme Council for Sim (Worldwide) stated, “What is going on in the state as a manufactured crisis for political control as the state of emergency declaration is not about security, it is about power grabbing and control.

“Mr president’s unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, sponsored by his appointee, which culminated in the recent protracted ruling of the Supreme Court.”

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