Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has challenged governors of states in the South-South geopolitical zone to be amenable to enduring synergy among themselves and embrace measures that will drive sustainable development of the Niger Delta region collectively.
He gave the charge yesterday when he received his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri, who led a delegation of some leaders of his state on a Christmas visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor highlighted the danger of a lack of collaboration and mutual relationship between sister states in the region, which manifest more in the difficulty experienced in having an enduring and meaningful development in the region.
He acknowledged that more Bayelsans live in Rivers, even if they work in Bayelsa, which underscores the need for broad-based approach to issues of security, connectivity and other areas that can make living, business pursuit and commutation easier.
Fubara said: “In fact, one of the assignments I will want His Excellency, Governor of Bayelsa to carry on with this: let us strengthen the BRACED Commission.
“The BRACED Commission has the interest of our zone. So, we can’t talk about development, solving crime issues in Rivers State; because if you solve only that of Rivers State, those criminals might run to Akwa Ibom State and in the night, they will come back and commit criminal acts.
“So, it must be something that, while we are doing something here, that same synergy must be in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states.
That is the only way we can get solution to our problems.
“I think you have to really take up this assignment, and see what we can record before we leave; because the only thing that can speak for us is those things we have added that will bring changes in the lives of our people.”
He thanked Governor Diri for the visit which he said showed the synergy and mutual strength they both share as governments in providing good leadership and expressed the belief that together, they would commit to protect all national assets in both states that advance the national economy.
Fubara said: “We have a responsibility, as leaders of these two states, to protect the oil resources. The oil investments, both the ones offshore, the ones onshore and within the pipelines, must be protected. It is important to do so, and we are doing our best for that.
“Are we even talking about the amount of money we spend for internal security to make sure that there is peace, knowing how volatile our region is? So, please, we will continue to do it, not because there is anything we want to gain personally. If there is no peace, there can’t be development.
“You can imagine what we went through in the days of militancy. I am so happy today that our region, more especially, Bayelsa and Rivers States, are no longer what they used to call us. God has sent that trouble to some other areas.
“So, we are now at peace. It is because we surrendered this situation to the hands of Almighty God. There is nothing God cannot do, when you believe in Him.”
Speaking, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, said that in 2023, Governor Fubara, paid him a surprise Christmas visit in his country home, adding that since then, he had planned to reciprocate the gesture.
Diri pointed to the common traits that have bonded people of the two states, which include ethnicity, culture, social and economic relationships, and praised Governor Fubara for his friendship.
He said: “But more importantly today, I like to also put on record that since you came on board, between our two states, it has been very peaceful. Between our two states, we have had a whole lot of understanding, even in areas where we had some previous disagreements.
“And for me, that is very instructive, and I like to make particular reference to the Soku oil wells that generated a whole lot of heat between our two states.
“For now, between us, we have agreed that let us go back to the status quo before whatever happened. So, we have both directed our Attorneys General to take charge of that, and they have already done the needful. So, there is relative peace between Bayelsa and Rivers states concerning the Soku oil wells.”
Diri recalled how the immediate past administration in Rivers State destroyed their property, which would have led to large-scale retaliation but added that they adopted legal approach and instituted a case against Rivers State in the Supreme Court.
He remarked that since Fubara assumed office, there has been heart-warming discussions and solutions eventually sought to resolve the matter out of court, explaining that both states have been partnering to amicably address their boundary issues, among others.
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