I appreciate Wike but I won’t worship human being -Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that while he appreciates the roles played by past leaders, including his predecessor Nyesom Wike, in his ascension of office, that was not enough for him to worship a human being.

Fubara insisted that there was nothing wrong with one helping another person, but that does not mean the helper should take the place of God.

Fubara spoke when he received on courtesy visit from the Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former Governor of the State, Senator Seriake Dickson, at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday. 

This was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, and sent to newsmen. 

Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads over the political crisis rocking the state.

Although President Bola Tinubu had, at some points, intervened, the disagreement continued.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that as long as he was concerned, God would remain God, who could sometimes cause one’s enemy to be a willing vessel to bring about one’s promotion in life.

He said, “God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it. It is only for us to realise that. God will not come down from Heaven but will pass through one man or woman to achieve His purpose. 

“So, for that reason, when we act, we act as humans; human vessels that God has used, and not seeing yourself as God.

“I want to say this clearly that we appreciate the role our leaders, most especially the immediate past governor, played. But that is not enough for me to worship a human being. I can’t do that.”

Fubara added that in seeking a peaceful resolution to the political crisis that erupted in the state last year, he had attended several reconciliation meetings, whose resolutions the other party had rebuffed.

The governor maintained that he had acted like the big brother in the crisis, not interested in destroying the ‘house’ so that meaningful development could continue to be engendered in the state while securing a tenable political relationship.

The statement further quoted Fubara as saying, “But I know that I have always taken the path of peace. I have shown respect. I’ve subjected myself to every meeting of reconciliation for peace. 

“And what happens, each time we come out from such meetings, we are faced with one thunder or lightning.”

The governor pointed out that when he assumed office, it was with the resolve to build on the existing foundation of the development of past leaders, especially the immediate past governor.

Fubara emphasised that it would have been out of the ordinary to engage in any political fight when there was so much work to be done for the state and its people as their governor.

The governor said he strongly felt that it was proper to set some records straight about what had become of a minor problem that was not uncommon in every human relationship.

He said, “But it is a bad thing when the problem that ought not to be anything, becomes something, and in fact, gets out of the bedroom to the sitting room and to the compound. That is the case of Rivers State today.

“I am also happy that you even mentioned the issues, even when I have all the instruments of state powers. I have shown restraint, and I believe that whoever is alive and has been following the activities of our dear state, knows that I have acted as a big brother in the course of this crisis.

“I have not acted like a young man who may want the house to be destroyed but I have behaved like the mature young man that I am. This is because I know that no meaningful development will be achieved in an atmosphere of crisis. 

“And because our intention for Rivers State is to build on the foundation that had been laid by our past leaders, it will be wrong for me to take the path of promoting crisis.