Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, has expressed his willingness to collaborate with his Bayelsa State counterpart, Governor Douye Diri, in peacefully settling property-related issues that are currently in dispute between the two states in court.
Fubara conveyed his desire for mutual cooperation with Diri during his New Year’s visit to the governor at his country home in Sampou, located in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
Accompanied by some prominent leaders from Rivers State, Governor Fubara emphasized the significance of the unification meeting that could mark a new beginning in the relationship between the two states.
In a statement released by Boniface Onyedi, the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Rivers Governor, Fubara stated that the purpose of their visit was to resolve any administrative boundary issues between both states.
He said, “The purpose of my presence today is not just a visit, but a reunification meeting. Our visit is to convey our desire to collaborate with our brother for common objectives and the advancement of both States.”
“We have several jointly owned assets in Rivers State. While we may not have had such a meeting before, we aspire to settle any issues amicably so that we can progress from this point forward,” he added.
“I have always maintained that development cannot be achieved amidst turmoil. We cannot support each other in a situation of chaos. Peace is the key element for development,” Governor Fubara emphasized.
Furthermore, Fubara lauded the Bayelsa State Governor and its residents for their supportiveness during the political crisis in Rivers State, and also acknowledged the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the Rivers political crisis.
In response, Governor Diri expressed his gratitude for Fubara’s visit, which aimed to establish mutually beneficial working arrangements between both states. Diri also acknowledged the ongoing legal disputes at the Nigerian Supreme Court over the contested Soku oil wells and the demolition of the Bayelsa House in Rivers State, pledging his commitment to working harmoniously with Rivers State going forward.