Fubara, who spoke on Wednesday, stated he had been inundated with comments over the implementation of the deal.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has warned his opponents that accepting the presidential peace pact to allow peace to reign should not be seen as a sign of weakness on his part.
Fubara, who spoke on Wednesday, stated he had been inundated with comments over the implementation of the deal.
According to him, the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the rift between him and his predecessor and political godfather, Nyesom Wike and the political crisis in the state last October is a political solution and not a constitutional one.
He, however, noted that his humility and choice to be silent out of maturity and wisdom had been taken as a sign of weakness by his opponents.
Addressing local government workers from the 23 council areas of the state, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, the governor said, “Let me say it here for record purposes; what is happening here in our dear state is somebody who has respect for an elder. Mr President invited all the parties to Abuja and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it.”
“It is not a constitutional implementation; it is a political solution to a problem,” he said.
He noted that he chose to abide by the resolution because of the “respect I have for Mr President”.
Sounding a note of warning, Fubara said, “But, let me say it here: if that action that I have accepted to take would be seen as a weakness, I will surprise them. I want this message to go to them.”
He urged the workers to count on his support as long as they do the right things.
"Nobody, whether full or half is going to intimidate you. Brace up because the next step, it will be fire for fire in Rivers State. Everything will be implemented,” he said.
Governor Fubara said that local government workers had started receiving N30,000 minimum wage with their promotions to be implemented beginning from April’s salary payment.
He also promised to set in motion plans to finalise modalities for the implementation of the Consolidated Salary Scale for Grade Level 17, and regular payment of benefits to the local government service retirees.
He said, “For our people, the great and wonderful people of Rivers State, we will continue to lead you with the fear of God.
“Maturity is not about age; maturity is in the person. It is what defines the character of a person. I choose not to respond to people that I assumed are mature, but are obviously immature in attitude.
“I will continue to be mature, not minding my age. But I will not, for any reason, allow myself or anybody who is working with me in this administration to be messed with, maltreated or abused in the cause of administering this governance.”
The National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ajewole Ayedele, who represented his National President, said they were delighted with the pro-people policies of the governor.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y