Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared himself as the winner following the crisis rocking the state.

The governor has been having a running battle with the camp of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The situation led to the factionalisation of the state House of Assembly with members loyal to Wike filing impeachment notice against the governor.

The lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress with members loyal to Fubara declaring their seats vacant.

President Bola Tinubu later intervened in the matter leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against the governor among other resolutions.

Speaking at the crossover church service at St Paul’s Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the governor said he remains the governor.

According to Fubara, those behind the crisis wanted him out of office and since he is still in charge, he is the winner.

He encouraged the people of the state not to be disheartened over the ongoing crisis because nothing will stop him from handling the state successfully.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by the governor’s media aide, Boniface Onyedi.

The statement quoted the governor as saying, “What they want is this red biro, but it is still with me. We are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro.

“As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers State.”

“Like I keep saying, it takes a responsible man to be a father. He acted like a father. On our part, we will continue to give him all the necessary support because if he does not succeed in Rivers State, he will not succeed as a President.

“So, as a state, we will continue to give him every support. We are not pretenders. Our support is genuine and it is to uplift his programmes. Our sacrifices are part of the support,” he said.