Supporters of the Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara in the festering political power struggle between their principal and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike have been livid with anger over the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Working Committee, NWC.
The NWC had in its decision recognize the recent congresses held by the Wike faction of the party in Rivers State. By this decision the PDP party’s structure in Rivers State is under the control of the former Governor.
This feeling of angst and disappointment by the Fubara loyalist was confirmed by The Nation.
According to The Nation, a source within the Fubara camp in Port Harcourt stated that the NWC’s action was against PDP’s Constitution.
Recall that even before the NWC decision, many of Fubara’s loyalists have been putting pressure on him to decide his next political move.
This feeling of disappointment was confirmed by the immediate past state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Sydney Tambara Gbara. He said the NWC’s decision was against the norm in the party. Which he said recognizes incumbent Governors as party leaders in their States.
Gbara said: “It is unimaginable that any person or group of persons in their right senses will sit down and even want to imagine that. The tradition has always been that the Governor of a State inherits the party’s assets and liabilities.
“The Governor assumes the head and the leadership of the party. It has been the tradition in Rivers State. This time around can’t be an exemption. Unless the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP is clearly making it clear to Rivers people that they don’t want us to continue being members of the PDP.
“If that is the case, we will also accept that. And then chart a new course on how to promote our political aspirations in any other platform”.
Gbara said the people of Rivers had chosen to pitch their tent with Governor Fubara and to defend his mandate.
“As a people, we have resolved to support Governor Siminialayi Fubara and we have moved on with him. Wherever he is, that is where we are. If he stays in PDP we will stay with him. If he leaves, we leave with him”, he said.
The Commissioner insisted that the decision would have adverse consequences for PDP. He pointed that it would make the party lose the State unless the NWC reversed its stance.
“You are talking about the people and not a nomenclature. The National Working Committee, NWC, should have a proper assessment of their decisions.
“It is definitely not going to go down well with the PDP to lose Rivers. I know what is going on up there. It is like a shopping ground for those who feel they can buy their way through.
“But the reality on ground is that Rivers has pitched their tent with Governor Fubara. And have moved on with him, whether in PDP or not. Our own party right now is Fubara. Wherever he is, that is where we will be.
“If the NWC has decided to hand over the structure to whoever they like, there is no problem. 2027 will decide the party that will rule Rivers,” he said.
He maintained that the body language of the NWC justified the Governor’s initial statement that the PDP had disappointed Rivers.
“The Governor had said it a long time ago that PDP had disappointed Rivers. He said the NWC has disappointed every one of us. We saw the drama that came up when the same NWC said all the party Executives should become Caretaker Committees for the party for three months and that nobody should be removed.
“But every one of us that supported the Governor was conspicuously removed from the State Exco. We saw the drama, and nobody said anything. The Governor started seeing the sabotage and compromise since that time.
“But we are talking about the voice of the people. And not the interest of one individual, who is playing God. We are resolute, we are ready for the showdown in Rivers comes 2027,” he said.
Gbara pointed out that Fubara’s support in Rivers was massive. He maintained that nobody could wrestle power from him in 2027.
“I can tell you; nobody can wrestle power from the people. And we will defend the mandate of Governor Fubara with every strength and every strand of blood in our system. We are Rivers’ people.
“We are not afraid of anybody. If they like they should go and bring the US Marine. In 2027, the people will come out and we will speak. It is important that the NWC take note of this and use their tongues to count their teeth. They should ask themselves whether they still need PDP in Rivers. For us, we have taken our position, and our position is Governor Fubara or nothing,” Gbara said.
source: The Nation
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