NewStats: 3,262,115 , 8,176,108 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 08:03 PM 5h4y6j

A member of the Rivers Elders’ Forum and former Commissioner for Works, Chief David Briggs, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu imposed the resolution concerning the crisis in the state on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Briggs, who said he attended the resolution meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, insisted that Fubara signed the resolution under duress, following alleged threats issued by the President.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, had on Wednesday dismissed any insinuation that Fubara signed the document under duress, adding that the signature was the governor’s authentic signature.

However, Briggs, on Thursday, maintained that Fubara signed the resolution under duress.

Briggs alleged that the President only handed over “a script referred to as resolution” to Fubara to sign without his input.

“I was there, so what I say is primary, not secondary. We were invited to a meeting, but that was not a meeting. What happened was that Mr President walked in with a written resolution, addressed us and declared that what he had in his hand was a presidential proclamation, therefore, he could whip; and emphasised the fact that he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anybody who tends to say no to what he was saying, it had consequences.

“That, in simple layman’s words, is a threat. He (Tinubu) wrote the resolution but refused to read it. He handed the resolution to Dr Peter Odili to read.

“Now let’s get it very clear. If you were in the position of the governor what would you do? Get up and go? Say no to Mr President with that kind of subtle but energetic threat?” he asked.

According to Briggss, most Rivers people present at the meeting, including former Attorney-General of the state, Adokiye Amiesimaka, were shocked by “the President’s undemocratic attitude” and decided to ask questions.

“One of us, specifically Amiesimaka, asked him, ‘Fubara should do this, he should do that. You (referring to the President) have not said what those 25 or 27 Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress without consulting their constituency and constituents should do.

“The President’s reaction was very clear and simple: ‘I’m the leader of the APC in Nigeria. And you are telling me when babies are born into my family I should ask them to go?” Briggs added.

According to him, there may be plans to make Fubara defect to the APC, but he commended the governor “for displaying maturity during the meeting.”

Attempts to get the Presidency’s reaction were unsuccessful, as the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, could not be reached for comments at press time.

On Thursday, a group of concerned citizens of Rivers State called on Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to abide by the resolutions reached after the meeting with Tinubu.

The group, codenamed ‘CC 23’, said after carefully appraising the situation, especially after Tinubu’s peace meeting, the tension in the state had reduced, saying it was a win-win for Fubara and Wike.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by 16 persons, including the National Publicity Secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dr Ken Robinson.

They said, “The citizens, comprising professionals, activists, community leaders, businessmen, and women, hereby, wholeheartedly, thank President Bola Tinubu, for his fatherly and timely intervention in the political crisis of Rivers State, which has mollified the tension in the state and provided a leeway for the peaceful and amicable resolution of the dispute between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“We have carefully appraised the resolutions reached at the mediatory meeting of President Bola Tinubu with the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the FCT and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and others. The outcome is a win-win situation; no victor, no vanquished!

“We salute the nationalistic bearing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his political sagacity, wisdom, and deep-rooted love for the nation, and our democracy. Certainly, Daniel came to judgment!

“We equally commend the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for submitting themselves to Mr. President’s mediation.

“We urge both parties to conscientiously uphold and abide by the of the peace deal. We urge them to leverage Mr. President’s intervention, put aside their differences, and bury the hatchet, to advance the peace, security, progress, and development of our dear Rivers State,”

Meanwhile, Fubara, on Thursday, said his istration had achieved the construction of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road, a project he claimed his predecessors could not achieve in the last 20 years.

Fubara spoke to newsmen in Ngo Town, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area of the state, shortly after inspecting the entire stretch of the road.

He maintained that despite the current challenges confronting his istration, he would not be distracted from his oath of office to defend Rivers people and protect their interests.

He recalled that during the campaigns leading to his election, the Andoni section of the road was in a horrible condition.

He said, “I have to say that the contractor has done a very good job. However, we did observe that about 1km of road that will lead to the council secretariat was somehow not captured in the scope and I think it will be proper that we do that alongside.

“So, we will continue to do our best not minding the challenges we are facing. The most important thing is that we have taken our oath to defend our people and protect their interests, and we are not going back on that.

“What I keep saying to everyone is: what are we bequeathing to our people? Their interest is the most important thing and governance is about the protection of lives and property. These include providing quality services and one of those things is like this road. Posterity has just blessed me with this project. It is something that they couldn’t achieve for over 20 years, but within the space of six months, I have been able to sort it out. It is a credit and a big one to our istration.”

https://punchng.com/tinubu-threatened-fubara-to-sign-resolution-ex-commissioner-alleges/

Wike must really have some strong leverage against Tinubu and the PDP because it is baffling how everyone seems to bend to his will

Nbote:
Wike must really have some strong leverage against Tinubu and the PDP because it is baffling how everyone seems to bend to his will

He's like a Christmas goat being fattened to be killed.

From every indication, the resolution is to Wike's favour.
The governor couldn't do otherwise considering the threat expressed to him during the meeting. Simi should be extremely careful as Wike will not give up. He should be smart and be way ahead of his rivals in strategy just like he recently demonstrated. Wike opted for that shallow peace options because the odds were against him at that time.

Abeg, shut the hell up and get out, bunch of idiots making a fool of themselves. Enemies of Rivers state. The Commissioner of information told us on Channels Tv that Fubara never signed under duress, he dismissed all the rumours flying around and reinterated the Governor's commitment to the peace pact. But i know that enemies of the state, spokespersons of headless mobs and agents of destructions and destabilisation would be paid to appear on Arisetv to give false s and propaganda. I don't know why President Tinubu is allowing some shitty radio and Tv stations get away with all sorts of misinformation and lies, Buhari didn't take it kindly with them. Tinubu should wake up and kick some ass, pls.

Even from the above explanation, I don't see any show of force to warrant duress

Tinubu gave a resolution as the President Commander in Chief GCFR, Peter Odili verified it and handed it over to Fabura, who signed it after reading



.

I read somewhere how his sister, Anko briggs was saying Fubara was taken to a corner and a gun pointed on his head to sign the deal. don't know why the briggs family want to destroy the peace of Rivers state.

The man fubara shouldn't have gone to Abuja in the first place. I wouldn't go. I see that as weakness. He should have sent a representative & say that he's busy.

Tinubu acting like a dictator.

No respect for Constitution.

ZaRuleOfLaw:
The man fubara shouldn't have gone to Abuja in the first place. I wouldn't go. I see that as weakness. He should have sent a representative & say that he's busy.

Or travelled out and request for the meeting to be rescheduled

stanluiz:
Tinubu acting like a dictator.

No respect for Constitution.

He wants to handle other states the way he handled lagos governors

Hehehehe

Oya let the grunt start?

Pakute:
I read somewhere how his sister, Anko briggs was saying Fubara was taken to a corner and a gun pointed on his head to sign the deal. don't know why the briggs family want to destroy the peace of Rivers state.

Its obvious these people really want to destroy the peace in river state
The governor should very careful

Well I can't agree less because for him to sign that document means he is no longer in the control of the state.
He will signed it for two reasons,
1. Threat
2. To find solace cos no one is ready to stand up for him even PDP cos they believe he belongs to NWPP (Nyesom Wike Political Party)

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Pdp is a weak party that's why thiefnubuu is meddling in their internal affairs and fubara wil be a biggest fool if he accept such one sided peace deal

PDP is now a branch of APC. Congratulations to those who fought hard to bring our democracy to this stage

Islie:


https://punchng.com/tinubu-threatened-fubara-to-sign-resolution-ex-commissioner-alleges/

If Fubara understands that he can be assassinated by those who put him there he will comply and be a gentleman.

Yes that was what happen

It is clear to every discerning mind.

Presidential resolution reversing a court order. A resolution that only a single point out of many seem to favour the other part, not even a favour in the real sense of the word cause the former assembly are yet to tell the world what the governor did that they served him impeachment notice.

A president reversing a court order and the constitution, thought that anomaly ended with Buhari

Whatever Fubara does, he must ensure that he does not lose the of the people. For some reason, that has shifted away from Wike and the people are watching Fubara to see if he is worthy of their . The ball is in his court now. Like the Igbos would say, "He
(Fubara) has the knife and the yam. He has the power to decide who should eat in Rivers state."

Noted.

rivers state

It's a funny situation, ironically Tinubu didn't agree to any of Obasanjo's plight during his time as a governor, he's the one now forcing his opinions on fubara

Fubara is scared of loosing his seat through supreme court, his hands are tied already

What do you expect? I was only worried about his quest for power and not even his incompetence. Your president is power drunk!!!

I like leaders who understand how powerful they are. Unlike Goodluck Jonathan, Bola Tinubu is one of them. The only unfortunate thing is that Tinubu is not a good person.

stanluiz:
Tinubu acting like a dictator
So he should let Rivers State be in anarchy just like d days of Ameachi...
Learn to reason without been partisan

No respect for Constitution.

What exactly are these people fighting over that should be dominating the attention of the nation?

With gun?