Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara,on Tuesday, dismissed speculations about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, just as he affirmed that Rivers remains a PDP-controlled state.
Governor Fubara while speaking on the rumours circulating about his imminent departure from the party, restated his commitment to the PDP.
He spoke during a visit from a delegation of the PDP Board of Trustees led by its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
His Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said in a statement that Governor Fubara admitted to having doubts about his PDP membership at times.
He however stated that the BoT’s visit reinforced his conviction that he is still part of the PDP family.
Fubara said, “I want to thank the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees. Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership of this great party, I think today, I have gotten a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of this party.
“And I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the governor and the supporters of the party, genuinely. I need to use that word, genuinely, because we, that are here, are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), undiluted.
“For once, I am happy to see the leaders, among whom are some founding fathers of the PDP, like Chief Bode George, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, joining the delegation here to talk about the unity of the party.
“I want to assure members of our party, genuine members of PDP that are here with us, that this is another hope to show that our decision to stand by the party, still standing by the party, is not a wrong decision.”
Wabara, in his address during the visit, explained that the BoT’s visit aimed to address the recent tensions threatening the PDP in Rivers State, stressing the party’s concern over potential loss of the state, warning that such a loss would have severe implications for Nigeria’s future.
He said, “We, the Board of Trustees of this party, came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We have been reading all kinds of things on the pages of newspapers and the Internet, for those who are Internet savvy. But, we, as elders of this great party, decided to come to hear from the horse’s mouth.
“First of all, we want to thank you for still being there because this party should not be allowed to die. And, it is for this very reason that I am thanking you, on behalf of my colleagues, and as you can see, it’s not from one geopolitical zone. We are well represented nationally.
“We were scared, sir, when we heard or read speculations, perceptions or what have you, that the party, if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we lose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future.
“We don’t want what happened in 2015, and 2023 to repeat itself. These men and women you see here are very neutral. But as the conscience of the party, we must go by the rule of law. And anything you do, going by the rule of law, can never be wrong. It may be delayed, but it cannot be wrong.”
