Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that he accepted the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu and decided to cooperate with the President and the National Assembly, believing that any sacrifice was worth making to secure peace, stability, and progress in Rivers State.

In a statewide broadcast on Friday evening, shortly after his return to officially resume duties following the lifting of the emergency rule, Governor Fubara acknowledged that the last six months had been extremely challenging for the state.

He explained that this was why he resisted pressure to challenge “the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions endured during this difficult period.”

Fubara noted that within the six months, President Tinubu successfully brokered a peace process involving all parties.

According to him, he, the FCT Minister, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly “have agreed to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.”

Fubara said, “We believe the political crisis is now behind us and that peace and stability have once again returned to Rivers State, though not without the hard lessons learnt from the emergency rule.

“The responsibility now rests squarely on us: the Government, the State House of Assembly, political leaders, and stakeholders to put aside our differences, work for the common good, and advance the interests of our people above all else.

“We have a duty to ensure that the peace we have all embraced remains permanent in our dear Rivers State.”