At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on September 5, a group of South-South leaders, under the aegis of ‘South-South Chiefs, Elders, and Opinion Leaders Association of Nigeria’, begged ‘Mr Oga in Abuja’ to allow Governor Sim Fubara to work for the people of Rivers State......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The press briefing was a fallout of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which was triggered by the face-off between Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike and his successor, Fubara. The South-South leaders believed the crisis had affected governance in Rivers State, and blamed Wike for it.
Wike is the ‘Mr Oga in Abuja’ who the group is begging to allow the governor to do his job.
THE WHISTLER reports that, in recent days, Fubara has turned into a beautiful bride, receiving support and ‘sympathy’ from several quarters in the face of threats from Wike, who has repeatedly vowed to unleash thunder and brimstone on the governor and anybody that dares to support him.
Addressing journalists, the National Chairman of the Association, Dr Omubo Harry, said, “It is God Almighty who brought Fubara to power, and no one can remove him.
“We cannot allow a few greedy individuals to disrupt democracy in our state or impose poverty for personal gain.
“We demand that the right thing be done.
“Mr Oga in Abuja, please allow Governor Fubara to work.
“As I said earlier, no one has a monopoly on wisdom except God, and what God has ordained should not be undone by man.
“We, the traditional rulers and well-meaning individuals present, say enough is enough. It is unjust to hinder progress when someone is trying to serve the people,” Harry said.
He continued, “Development and peace are needed in this state. The Government House is not personal property. It is a matter of turn by turn.
“Currently, it is Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s turn, and he is a peace-loving individual dedicated to serving the people and fostering effective socio-economic development in Rivers State.
“Leadership involves credible execution of trust, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara has, in the past year and three months, governed effectively, promoting stability, economic growth, development, and human welfare.
“This is evident in his actions since becoming governor. He is working to reduce poverty, upgrade hospitals, improve roads, and promote empowerment,” he added.
Although Wike has been able to solidify his hold on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, structure in Rivers State, following the recent State Congress in which his loyalists swept all available positions, his brash approach may eventually hand a moral victory to Fubara.
Already, the PDP Governors’ Forum, which has been silent on the Rivers crisis, has all of a sudden thrown its hats into the ring, taking sides with the governor.
Although the PDP governors had earlier, at a meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on August 23, expressed the need to hand the party’s Rivers State structure to Fubara, it was Wike’s ‘violent’ reaction to that suggestion that forced the governors to openly stand behind their colleague.
Wike threatened to “put fire” in the states of the PDP governors for interfering in the affairs of the party in Rivers State.
Replying to Wike in a statement signed by their spokesman, Emmanuel Agbo, the PDP governors made it clear to the FCT minister that they are with Fubara.
Stressing that their position on the affairs of the PDP in Rivers State, as unanimously resolved at earlier meetings in Enugu and Taraba, where they backed Fubara as the party’s leader in the state, “are not subject to review by any individual no matter how highly placed”, the governors added, “The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP controlled states are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity totally unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party.
“It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered Forum as a former governor.”
Insisting that the PDP, by tradition, recognizes governors as leaders of the party in the states, the statement added, “As loyal party faithful, members of the Forum remain committed to that pristine practice that was intended to guarantee order, eliminate conflicting centres of loyalty epitomised by the situation in Rivers State and guard against distracting the Governor in the prosecution of his mandate. Wike benefitted wholly from that arrangement.
“We are irrevocably committed to working with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the PDP, in ensuring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is conferred with all the privileges he is entitled to as a Governor elected on the platform of our party, both at the state and national levels.”
The PDP governors did not stop at backing Fubara. They reported Wike to the security agencies.
“The Forum calls on the heads of the national security apparatuses to take note of threats by Wike to stoke the fire of violence at the sub-nationals as no one is above the laws of the land.”
In the wake of Wike’s threats, further support has come Fubara’s way from the Niger Delta Youth Congress, NDYC, which lauded the Rivers governor for “championing” democracy in a statement released on September 2, 2024.
“Governor Sim Fubara’s recent courageous stance against the despotic tendencies of the former governor, Nyesom Wike, is nothing short of laudable.
“Nyesom Wike’s attempts to subjugate the people of Rivers State and treat our state as his personal fiefdom must be strongly resisted by all well-meaning individuals.
“His tyrannical conduct and audacious declaration of ownership over the political landscape of Rivers State reveal a gross disregard for the democratic process and the collective will of the people.
“Such brazen arrogance and attempts to pocket the state’s resources for personal gain should not and will not be tolerated.
“The NDYC strongly condemns the recent vitriolic and demeaning statements made by Nyesom Wike, where he threatened to incite political turmoil in states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“These statements, aimed at destabilising the political harmony of our nation, are reckless, irresponsible, and unbecoming of someone holding a ministerial position in the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Wike’s desperate attempts to coerce and intimidate those standing for the right cause, including Governor Sim Fubara and the PDP Governors Forum, highlight his despotic inclinations and his desire to wield power solely for personal aggrandisement.
“We commend the PDP Governors Forum for their unflinching and resolute support for Governor Sim Fubara in this struggle to uphold democracy and protect the sovereignty of the people’s mandate.
“Their solidarity and firmness in standing by Governor Fubara in the face of Wike’s intimidation tactics is a demonstration of their commitment to justice, equity, and the true spirit of democracy.
“We urge them to continue showing strength and courage and not to be daunted by the threats of a tyrant who deludes himself into thinking that the PDP is his personal playground or that he can control its members like puppets on a string,” the Niger Delta youth group said in statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan.
The group in the same vein called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action by cautioning Wike against making statements and engaging in actions capable of escalating tensions and inciting violence across the nation.
Amid the sudden outpouring of support for Fubara, a chieftain of the PDP, Umar Sani, has warned that the party cannot afford to lose the governor.
The warning issued by Sani, a former Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo was directed at the PDP leadership, which has openly displayed bias for Wike in the feud with Fubara.
The Iliya Damagun-led PDP National Working Committee, NWC, handed the party’s Rivers structure to Wike and has also ruled the party out of local government elections scheduled by Fubara for October 5, 2024, through which the governor intends to put his loyalists in charge at the grassroots.
The role being played by the PDP NWC in the Rivers crisis gave rise to insinuations that Fubara is planning to leave the party.
Speaking on the issue during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show, on September 2, 2024, Sani said: “We can’t afford to lose Fubara to another party because if he feels he’s not in charge and can’t run the affairs of the party, naturally he will look for an avenue to do so.
“This will be catastrophic. I welcome the decision of the PDP Governors Forum in Jalingo and in line with their thinking, Bala Mohammed is now providing the needed leadership the party requires.”
