Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has urged the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to isolate himself from those he termed “crisis merchants” and remain focused on advancing the reconciliation process with his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, Eradiri praised Fubara for following his earlier recommendation to seek reconciliation by apologizing to Wike.
He recalled initial backlash from some Ijaw leaders when he made that suggestion, but expressed satisfaction that the embattled governor eventually acted on it.
“I was happy that you heeded my advice, got up from your comfort zone and initiated the reconciliation by first meeting with Chief Wike and apologising to him. You have done well, but you need to follow up this process,” Eradiri stated.
He urged Fubara to maintain distance from individuals he believes are fuelling the crisis and manipulating the governor into political missteps, including constitutional breaches.
“There are those trying to make an ethnic case out of the crisis and the others choreographing most political mistakes of Fubara and supervising some of his alleged constitutional breaches without guiding him properly,” he warned.
According to Eradiri, many of the governor’s so-called allies are actually undermining him for their own benefit.
“Most of the people, who claimed to love the governor and offered him pieces of advice, were his real enemies because they were profiting from the crisis and would not want it to end,” he said.
He further urged Fubara to reconnect with Wike and obey President Bola Tinubu’s peace roadmap to end the prolonged political stalemate.
“Thank God that President Tinubu saved you through the declaration of emergency rule. This opportunity has offered you a second chance; please, do not bungle it,” he advised.
“First, make yourself unreachable to those who will come and slow this process down and feed you with unsolicited advice to abort this reconciliation,” Eradiri added.
He also criticized recent behavior by some of Fubara’s supporters, particularly the walkout staged by pro-Fubara women during an event attended by First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu.
He cautioned that such acts could derail the fragile peace process.
“Such an action is condemnable in the reconciliation process. It can derail and slow down the process of peace as well as cast doubts on the suspended governor’s sincerity to end the political crisis in the state,” he said.
Calling for discipline within Fubara’s camp, Eradiri stated: “The suspended governor must rein in his supporters and stop them from all forms of protests capable of deepening the political discord in the state. He must be seen to walk his talk because every action of his supporters will be attributed to him.”
The former Ijaw Youths Council President appealed to all parties involved including Wike, the suspended state legislators, and others loyal to the minister, to forgive Fubara and help foster reconciliation.
