Why Rivers Speaker resigned, Governor Fubara opens up

The Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said Edison Ogerenye Ehie resigned as the Speaker of the state house of assembly for peace to reign.

As reported by The Punch, Fubara spoke at a New Year banquet held at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers No.1 citizen reiterated that all the steps taken so far by his allies were in the interest of peace, adding that they were not borne out of fear, Premium Times noted.

Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor, have been fighting over the control of political power in the oil-rich state, leaving the state legislature battered as lawmakers split into two factions.

The Rivers governor said: "Whatever it will take, as seen in our decisions… Yesterday (Sunday, December 31, 2023), a lot of people were worried: why would the Speaker resign? It is to tell you what we can do for peace to reign.”

He added:

“Every decision that we’ve taken is not borne out of fear but because we have the interest of our people and we have respect for elders.

“I’m appealing to every one of us to embrace the peace. We need this peace because our intention for the state is not for our personal interest but for the development of the state."