Human rights activist and Niger Delta advocate Ann-Kio Briggs has said many Rivers State residents began openly supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara after witnessing his confrontation with security personnel during the political crisis in the state.
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Briggs recalled the events following the burning of part of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. She said residents saw Fubara being tear-gassed and sprayed with water while heading to the assembly complex.
“We woke up one morning and saw Governor Siminalayi Fubara, policemen and youths on the streets of Rivers State after the burning down of part of the state assembly complex, and we saw the governor was being pelted with water and teargas. From that position is when Rivers people took sides and got involved. Do we have a right to take sides? Of course we do. It is our vote and he is our governor,” Briggs said.
She argued that Rivers people were justified in taking sides in the political dispute between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, because they elected Fubara as governor.
