TINUBU: Fresh Trouble In Rivers As PDP Moves Against Gov Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, defended the peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over the crisis in the state.
In a broadcast on Monday, Fubara emphasized that the resolution brokered by the President was not a death sentence but aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the state. He expressed commitment to implementing the peace agreement to restore political stability.
Fubara stated, “Mr President’s Peace Proclamation has naturally elicited mixed reactions from our people and across the country… I reaffirm my acceptance and my commitment to implementing both the letter and spirit of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear state without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values.”
Regarding the implementation process, Fubara noted the withdrawal of the purported impeachment notice by the defected lawmakers and the release of allowances by the government. He stressed the importance of peace and pledged to pursue it without surrendering freedom or jeopardizing the interests of Rivers State.
The governor commended President Tinubu for his intervention and expressed confidence in achieving stability and progress without endangering the collective interest of the people.
In response, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) warned the governor against implementing the agreement without the party’s input. Timothy Osadolor, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, emphasized the constitutional nature of the issues, including the vacant seats of defected lawmakers.
He stated, “The PDP constitutionally owns the votes… I don’t see how Governor Fubara will tell the PDP that because he met with the President… the PDP should not take charge of its votes. The votes belong to the PDP, not to Fubara or the Villa… The one within the governor’s purview is to pay salaries and allowances of the lawmakers to the date their seats become vacant. I am sure the governor knows his limit.”
Recall that the PDP National leadership had earlier rejected Tinubu’s peace deal. Speaking on the deal, the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun, maintained that the party would not abide by it adding that the seats of the defected lawmakers had become vacant and called on the electoral umpire to conduct fresh elections to fill the seats.
