The Reconciliation Committee of the Rainbow Coalition has announced significant progress in efforts to resolve past political differences among stakeholders in Rivers State, assuring members of the political family that nobody would be victimised or discriminated against as the reconciliation process gathers momentum.
The committee gave the assurance on Sunday after meeting with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The meeting was the second between the committee and the governor in about two weeks and formed part of ongoing efforts to restore political unity and cooperation among previously estranged leaders and supporters.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, said the latest engagement was focused on further discussions on the modalities for achieving lasting peace and bringing members of the political family together.
The committee was constituted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as part of broader efforts to reconcile the various factions that have been divided by political disagreements in the state.
Abe, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the committee had held a series of consultations and engagements to establish a framework through which all members could work together under the emerging atmosphere of peace.
He stressed that the reconciliation process was not intended to punish or exclude anyone on account of previous political disagreements.
According to him, all members would be treated equally, respectfully and as members of the original political family, irrespective of their positions during the period of political tension.
Abe said the committee considered it important to make the development public so that residents of Rivers State could understand the new political direction emerging in the state.
“I’m sure that Rivers people will be very curious to understand exactly what we have been talking about. So, I know that this will be very good news for all Rivers people who are interested in the unity, progress and prosperity of Rivers State. We are all in agreement and we have made very good progress,” he said.
He described the renewed engagement among the political stakeholders as a significant development, saying it had created optimism that the prolonged political disagreements could give way to cooperation.
“Our coming together signals a significant shift in the political atmosphere of the state and we believe that all well-meaning Rivers people will be very happy to see that finally, the peace that all Rivers people crave for is here,” Abe added.
The committee chairman’s comments suggest that the reconciliation effort has moved beyond preliminary consultations, with stakeholders now discussing practical arrangements for restoring political cooperation among members of the coalition.
Also speaking, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South-South Zone, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, who was part of the delegation, commended Governor Fubara for providing an avenue for the stakeholders to meet and engage directly.
Nwanosike expressed optimism that the renewed relationship would translate into greater cooperation and improved governance outcomes for the people of Rivers State.
“I’m so excited. The last meeting went well. Today’s meeting went extraordinarily well and it shows clearly to the people of Rivers State that the family is back; sincerely back and soon, they will see the working of the Rainbow Coalition. We will give the people of Rivers State the dividends of democracy they’ve been expecting from all angles,” he said.
Another stakeholder at the meeting, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, said those who had remained supportive of Governor Fubara had agreed to embrace peace, arguing that reconciliation remained the best path forward.
Nwuzi described the disagreements that had characterised the political environment as part of the challenges that could arise within any human society, stressing that the important thing was the willingness of the parties to resolve their differences.
“Our leader has spoken and our overall leader has equally spoken and accepted that there is need for all of us to reconcile. I can tell you that we have reconciled. All that we are waiting for is for the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to put the seal on the reconciliation process which has been going on for the past few weeks,” he said.
The renewed reconciliation initiative comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State that had created divisions among major political actors and supporters.
The latest engagements indicate a concerted effort by the stakeholders to move beyond the disagreements and rebuild relationships within the political structure.
The committee’s insistence that no member would be victimised or discriminated against is also expected to ease concerns among stakeholders who may have been on opposing sides of the political divide.
The delegation at Sunday’s meeting included the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, Mr Tamosisi Gogo Jaja and other political stakeholders.
The committee said the ongoing reconciliation process was aimed at ensuring that the emerging unity translates into tangible political and developmental benefits for Rivers State.
