(DDM) – South-South elder statesman Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe has reflected on the Rivers State political crisis, praising Governor Siminalayi Fubara for choosing peace over confrontation.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Sara-Igbe shared his reflections in an interview with Channels Television, following the end of six months of emergency rule in the state.
The emergency rule was declared by President Bola Tinubu after bitter conflicts between Governor Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly destabilized governance.
During the six-month period, democratic institutions were suspended, and the state was run under federal oversight.
The decision sparked nationwide debates about the limits of presidential powers and the fragility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions at the subnational level.
President Tinubu eventually lifted the rule after peace efforts began to yield results, restoring constitutional government in Rivers State.
Chief Sara-Igbe explained that Governor Fubara’s remarkable patience and restraint were central to the resolution of the crisis.
He stressed that although the governor had the power to take drastic measures against his opponents, he consistently chose dialogue and reconciliation.
According to Sara-Igbe, Fubara remained calm and confident throughout the turbulence, refusing to let political pressures push him into rash decisions.
He described the governor as a leader who values unity above personal or political gain.
At the height of the conflict, some elders advised Fubara to drag the Assembly members to court for alleged perjury.
But the governor declined, insisting that the lawmakers remained part of the Rivers family and should not be treated as enemies.
Fubara reportedly told his advisers that pursuing legal battles would further divide Rivers people instead of bringing them together.
By taking this stand, the governor prioritized forgiveness and tolerance over vengeance, sending a powerful message of leadership grounded in peace.
“There was a time some of us asked him to even take the assembly members to court for perjury,” Sara-Igbe recalled.
“He said, drop it, we’re one family. We’re the same brothers and the same friends,” the elder statesman added.
Sara-Igbe maintained that this approach created an atmosphere where peace and reconciliation could thrive after months of instability.
Analysts say the crisis in Rivers was one of the most severe state-level political breakdowns in recent Nigerian history.
Observers believe that Fubara’s conciliatory posture may serve as a model for leaders across Nigeria facing political opposition and internal party strife.
However, critics argue that forgiveness without accountability could embolden political actors to destabilize governance in the future.
For many Rivers citizens, though, the governor’s choice of peace has restored hope that unity can triumph over division.
The post Rivers elder hails Fubara’s patience, says forgiveness ended political crisis
DDM News
first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
