Rivers unity boost: Wike loyalists, Fubara faction put aside differences

n n

Political allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the camp of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, appear to be closing ranks as efforts to reconcile the rival factions gather momentum.

n

This comes as the reconciliation committee of the Rainbow Coalition disclosed that none of its members, regardless of their past political disagreements, would be victimised or discriminated against in the ongoing moves to achieve peace and fully restore the political family.

n

The disclosure came on Sunday as members of the committee met with the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

n

This was the second time the Magnus Abe-led committee had met with Fubara in two weeks.

n

According to the group, under the new atmosphere of peace and reconciliation, everybody would be treated equally and respectfully as members of the original political family.

n

The disclosure was contained in a Government House statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday and sent to journalists.

n

According to the statement, the chairman of the committee, Abe, said the meeting was to enable the hitherto estranged political leaders to deliberate further on modalities for the ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts.

n

The committee was set up by the leader of the group, Wike.

n

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Abe said the committee had been holding several meetings to work out modalities on how all its members would work together.

n

He said the explanation had become necessary because the committee wanted the people of Rivers State to be aware of the new direction in which the state was moving.

n

Abe stated, “I’m sure that Rivers people will be very curious to understand exactly what we have been talking about.

n

“So, I know that this will be very good news for all Rivers people who are interested in the unity, progress and prosperity of Rivers State. We are all in agreement, and we have made very good progress.

n

“Our coming together signals a significant shift in the political atmosphere of the state, and we believe that all well-meaning Rivers people will be very happy to see that finally, the peace that all Rivers people crave is here.”

n

The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, South-South Zone, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, who was part of the delegation, expressed appreciation to Fubara for throwing his doors open and allowing the committee to meet and talk with him as brothers.

n

“I’m so excited. The last meeting went well. Today’s meeting went extraordinarily well, and it shows clearly to the people of Rivers State that the family is back; sincerely back, and soon, they will see the working of the Rainbow Coalition.

n

“We will give the people of Rivers State the dividends of democracy they’ve been expecting from all angles,” Nwanosike said.

n

Another stakeholder at the meeting, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, said members of the group who believed in Fubara had agreed to make peace, as there was nothing better than peace.

n

He described the disagreements of the past as a normal occurrence in any human society.

n

“Our leader has spoken, and our overall leader has equally spoken and accepted that there is a need for all of us to reconcile. I can tell you that we have reconciled.

n

“All that we are waiting for is for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to put the seal on the reconciliation process which has been going on for the past few weeks,” he said.

n

Other members of the delegation included the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, and Mr Tamosisi Jaja, among others.

n n