PDP calls for ceasefire between Fubara, Wike, fears losing Rivers to APC
…I won’t run from PDP ‘vampires,’ Wike vows to stay and fight amid PDP exit rumours
The Peoples Democratic Party has waded into the prolonged political feud between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of FCT. The party’s Board of Trustees led by Adulfus Wabara met with Governor Fubara to ascertain the cause of the crisis and find a solution.
The feud has divided the party in the state into two camps and has disrupted governance.
The PDP is scared of losing Rivers State, which is a traditional PDP state, to the opposition APC. “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,” said Mr Wabara.
Governor Fubara assured the party’s BOT that he remains a member of the PDP, despite speculation that he was about to exit the party. “Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership first, 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,” he said.
The PDP BOT chairperson expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his resilience and wisdom in handling the crisis and assured him that the party will deal with the matter constitutionally.
The delegation will also meet with the other party in the crisis to hear their side of the story. The PDP is determined to resolve the crisis and unite the party to win the 2027 elections.
Receiving members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), who visited him in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Fubara told them that he had at some point doubted his membership of the party.
“Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership first, 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.”
The governor’s remark is contained in a statement on Tuesday by Fubara’s spokesperson, Chukwudi Nelson.
“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,” Mr Fubara said
The oil-rich Rivers is a traditional PDP state, however, the party for the first time since 1999 fell to opposition, APC in the 2023 presidential election, because the then Governor Wike, after losing the party’s presidential ticket, refused to support former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who emerged the party’s flagbearer.
Wike formed allegiance with Bola Tinubu, then presidential candidate of the APC, who, after winning the presidential election, rewarded Mr Wike with a ministerial appointment.
Speaking during the visit to Mr Fubara, the chairperson of PDP BOT, Adulfus Wabara, said the party was “scared of losing Rivers State” as they do not want a repeat of what happened to the party in 2015, and 2023, where the party lost the presidential election to the APC.
“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,” Mr Wabara said.
“I don’t want to describe it. Otherwise, as a Governor, we have former Governors here, I doubt if they would have taken as much as you have. So, on behalf of this party, once again, let me thank you for your resilience, your wisdom, and for the fact that you are still in this party.
“And to assure you that the Board of Trustees under my watch and with these serious minded Nigerians, will deal with the matter as constitutionally allowed.
Also, Wike vowed to stay in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and fight against the internal crisis, despite the ongoing feud between him and the party leadership.
He made this statement during a media parley on Wednesday in Abuja to mark his first anniversary as FCT minister.
“I’ve told you I do not run from any fight. I will stay there; I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? How can you say that?” Wike said, emphasising his determination to remain in the PDP and confront the challenges head-on.
The minister’s statement comes less than 24 hours after a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, called on the National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to expel Wike from the party to save it from destruction.
Clark had accused Wike of using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party.
Wike, however, insisted that he would not abandon his principles, even if it means standing alone.
“Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today. When I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things, did they bring one member that won the election?”
The Minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of the principle that if this is not done we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”
