Former National Chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and other prominent stakeholders of the party in Rivers State have declared their total support for the governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, despite the political crisis ongoing in the state.
The stakeholders under the platform of the former Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Council, also expressed their support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that they will obey the verdict of the Supreme Court that validated the positions of both the president and the governor.
Speaking during a press conference yesterday, in Port Harcourt, the stakeholders led by their former Director General, Dr Abiye Sekibo, a former Minister of Transportation and Chairman, Senator Lee Maeba pledged to support the Tinubu’s administration for the success and benefit of all Nigerians, saying that the President’s efforts at strengthening the economy, promoting peace and harmony in the country is a good development.
Also, the stakeholders stated that they will support governor Fubara for the progress of the State, urging the governor and president to work together for the good of Rivers people.
“We have just risen from a meeting of the leadership of the former Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Council and members of the PDP in Rivers State who stood by the party after the National Convention of our party produced our
Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999-2007), Wazirin Adamawa.
“The elections are since over and the Supreme Court has ruled on the finality of that contest, pronounced His Excellency Senator Bola Tinubu, as the duly elected President of Nigeria. We stand by that verdict.
“As law-abiding citizens, and responsible leaders of our party in Rivers State, we recognise the elected President of our country and pledge our full support for the success of his administration for the benefit of all Nigerians. In effect, we subscribe to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the President’s efforts at strengthening our economy, promoting peace and harmony in our dear country, Nigeria.
“In the same vein, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara was elected democratically as Governor of Rivers State, and also confirmed by the Supreme Court. As indigenes of Rivers State, we have no choice but to give our dear Governor our total loyalty and support for the progress of our State. In that same vein, we urge our Governor and Mr President to work together for the good of Rivers people. With the elections over, now is the time for real governance for the progress of our nation”.
The stakeholders who acknowledged the effort of Fubara administration to ensure development and peace in the state, regretted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) clash with the governor is causing serious unrest in the state.
The PDP chieftains therefore, urged President Tinubu to call the Minister to order, stressing that the crisis in the state is affecting development and peace of the people.
“Today, we are sad because in the last few months, the peace of our state has
been disturbed by the foolish actions of one selfish man who believes that more than 7 million Rivers people are his slaves for electing him as their Governor for 8 years. Our people are not a conquered lot and would never subscribe to the mentality of conquest. We also refuse to be divided along tribal or ethnic lines.
“Unfortunately, he has consistently abused the privilege that God bestowed upon him through the votes of the people, by committing crimes against the interest of the State.
Lately, he has resorted to insulting our revered leader, and former Governor, His Excellency Sir Dr Peter Odili, and his wife Her Excellency Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, because they refused to support him in his failed attempt to impeach the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“We have nothing against Mr. President compensating Nyesom Wike with the office of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. However, we owe the President a duty to explain some facts and advise him on the character and machinations of his appointee.
We wish to let the President know that this appointee ran a kleptocratic government when he reigned supreme as Governor of Rivers State, and may do same in the Federal Capital Territory, if the President looks the other way. We strongly advise Mr President to keep a close watch on the FCT Administration.
“The FCT Minister has threatened publicly to destabilize the peace in Rivers State. The President has a duty to call him to order. We the Rivers people will not standby while an individual decides that we will not sleep with our two eyes closed. The Holy book says ‘He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind’. if Wike troubles Rivers people, he shall surely inherit the wind”.
Speaking further, the stakeholders stated “We wish to let the President know that a vast majority of Rivers people are solidly with our Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and will not allow an illegal and unconstitutional assembly of any sort, impeach him or disrupt the smooth governance of our dear state to cause a breach of the public peace.
“Rivers State is too economically strategic for the nation to be toyed with especially at a time when our Nation is looking to maximize her oil production to meet her OPEC quota”.
They also called on all Nigerians irrespective of party, tribal or ethnic affiliations to rally round the President Tinubu administration, so that working together, the nation will overcome the biting hard economic and security.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, the former PDP national chairman, Secondus insisted that Governor Fubara remains the leader of the party in the state, saying that there is no other structure other than the one led by the governor.
“I am quite sure that at the national level of the party we are working out something. As a chairman of the party, I made sure all the governors were recognised as the leader of the party in their various states
“Governor Siminalayi Fubara will have 100percent control of the party structure. In tg interes of the state, everybody should support the governor for peaceful Rivers State”.
To the party leaders at the conference, Secondus advised “There will be no discrimination, what is important is the interest of the state. Rivers State belongs to all of us, it does not belong to one person. So everybody should be Simplified”.
Other stakeholders at the conference include, former deputy Speaker House if Representatives, Austin Okpara, Glory Emeh, Celestine Omehia, Tamuno Gogo Jaja, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, former Rivers deputy governor, Tele Ikuru, others.
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
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