By LAURA EBELEAKPO
Contrary to public belief that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State signed the dotted lines and agreed to dispositions contained in a document already made public, there are fresh facts suggesting that the agreement was imposed on the governor.
SYMFONI NEWS is now in possession of what seems like a confessional statement by an eye witness to the meeting moderated in the Villa by President Tinubu with Fubara and Nyesom Wike with former Governor Peter Odili and other stakeholders if Rivers State in attendance.
In the voice note, an elder of the state identified as Chief David Briggs, who said he was present at the meeting, stated that Fubara did not sign the purported document.
Briggs also stated that the agreement was pre-written and was brought into the meeting by President Tinubu.
According to him, Fubara did not want to embarrass the President by openly rejecting the document, he, however, did not sign it.
He also stated that everyone at the meeting was surprised when Tinubu pulled out the document and asked Governor Fubara to sign.
Chief Briggs noted that all depositions on the agreement were against the spirit and letters of the Nigerian constitution adding that no one at the meeting knew who drafted the agreement.
According to him, another elder of the state, Chief Adokiye Amiesiamaka, questioned President Tinubu on why every point on the agreement was about what Fubara must do and nothing was said about what the defecting lawmakers should also do.
Briggs stated that President Tinubu responded saying that as the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, he was not expected to ask questions when more children join his family.
Indeed, Briggs quoted President Tinubu as saying it was surprising that Governor Fubara hadn’t yet defected to the APC.
Noting that President Tinubu did not act like a statesman during the meeting, Briggs stated that Fubara’s humility and calmness saved the day during the meeting in the Villa.
He said the agreement must have been drafted by Tinubu’s aides and imposed on Governor Fubara.
According to Briggs, “This was how Abacha was destroyed by his aides.”
Briggs warned that the Nigerian constitution must be upheld in the matter involving the Rivers State governor and the State lawmakers.
