PDP Crisis: Governors, Wike Draw Battle Line Over Fubara

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has taken a new dimension as governors elected on the platform of the party have drawn a battle line with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over the control of the party’s structure in the state.

The governors, who are visibly angry with Wike’s threat to “set fire” on PDP states, have vowed to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is also locked in a battle of wits with Wike over the control of the party in Rivers State.

“We will support Fubara, whom we believe deserves to be accorded the respect due to governors,” said Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum. “Threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to ‘put fire’ in the PDP-controlled states are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect among leaders and members of the party.”

The crisis in Rivers State has inadvertently exposed the PDP as a party working against itself, with many Nigerians questioning who authorized the NWC delegation that supervised the congress despite the court interim injunction to the contrary.

“It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor,” Agbo said.

Governor Fubara has vowed to remain in the PDP, saying, “So far, what is important this afternoon is that we are still members of the party, and the owners of the party have visited us.”

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The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, had visited Fubara in Government House, Port Harcourt, with an assurance that the BoT would resolve the lingering crisis in the party constitutionally.

“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,” Wabara said.