Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara yesterday said he was prepared to pay any price for peace to reign.
The governor, who has been embroiled in a political battle with his predecessor Nyesom Wike, on Monday signed an eight-point agreement to facilitate a truce.
Fubara, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wike, former Governor Peter Odili, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, chairmen of the state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chukwuemeka and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee Chairman Tony Okocha, National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Senator Adolphus Wabara, among others attended a peace meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Aso Villa.
Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, Fubara said: “There is no price that will be too big to pay to ensure that peace prevails.”
The statement was greeted with a thunderous applause.
He spoke during the 3rd Convocation and 6th Founders Day ceremonies of the PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Iriebe, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. The university is owned by Dr. Odili.
Fubara assured that the provision of a quality education system and affordable public healthcare services remained two vital priorities of his administration.
“While some progress has been made, it is obvious that a lot still needs to be done to achieve our collective aspirations for universal access to quality education and healthcare for our people.
“I need not say that no society can progress without educated and healthy people.”
He added: “I assure you that we have no choice as a government, but to continue to offer tangible material support to enable the university to widen the scope and quality of medical education and services it provides in our state.”
Odili hailed Fubara for his developmental strides, saying his first steps were correct.
He said: “There is no doubt that you will dance well.”
Odili, however, told Fubara, who is the Special Visitor to the institution, that governance is not an easy business, assuring that the institution will continue to pray for him to succeed.
The agreement reached at the meeting and signed by Fubara, Wike, the Speaker, other lawmakers and dignitaries present at the parley are:
•All matters in courts by Fubara and his team shall be withdrawn immediately;
•All impeachment proceedings should be dropped immediately;
•The House as led by Martin Amaewhule shall be recognised alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP;
•The remunerations and benefits of all members must be reinstated immediately and the governor shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Assembly;
•The Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference;
•Fubara shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted House;
*The names of all commissioners who resigned should be resubmitted to the House for approval;
•There should not be a caretaker committee for the LGAs. (The Nation)
