Politics
Rivers PDP Boss Explains Guber Candidate’s Emergence …APC Suffers More Losses
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor has explained the circumstances that led to the emergence of Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara as the candidate of party for next year’s gubernatorial election in the state.
Speaking recently in his office while receiving two groups of defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ambassador Akawor said that the choice of Amaopu – Senibo Fubara was the best thing that happened to Rivers people as he (Fubara) does not have ‘boys’ nor belong to any particular group in the state.
The party chairman explained that the choice of the candidate was dictated by fairness, equity and justice to all sections of the state, adding that while it was imperative to shift power to the riverine area of the state, only the Rivers South East Senatorial District was yet to occupy the governorship position since 1999.
“In the Rivers West, Dr. Peter Odili had taken it and so Rivers West should be eliminated for fairness. For the Rivers East, Sir Celestine Omehia, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike have emerged from that district, so Rivers East was also ruled out. The focus now was on Rivers South East district which comprises Ogoni (Khana, Gokhana, Tai and Eleme), Oyigbo, Opobo/Nkoro and Andoni.
“Since all the people that have emerged from Rivers West and East were from the upland part, and remember the APC had taken their governorship candidate from the riverine, we decided that our candidate must also come from the riverine part of Rivers South East Senatorial district”.
He disclosed that the issue of a successor to Chief Nyesom Wike came up on the eve of the Governor’s birthday when the elders of the state came to pay him a surprise birthday visit, explaining that the issue followed the elders’ call on the Governor to vie for the position of president of the country.
“The Elders’ Forum met in the house of Chief (Ferdinand) Anabraba and agreed to go and wish our Governor happy birthday by 12 midnight.
“We also agreed that night that the Governor had done all he needed to do in the State and that we think he is a product we can sell to the nation. So we drafted a letter to wish him happy birthday and included two clauses there, urging him to run for the presidency.
“When we got to his (Governor) house, it was already past 12 midnight. We woke him up and handed the letter over to him. He read it and saw the clause where we said he should run for president. He said you people say I should run for the presidency, let us settle home first. You people should decide who should be the governor”.
He disclosed that out of those who wanted to be governor, seven of them were at the meeting and they were told to go and choose one person from among themselves who would run for the position of governor, but they couldn’t do so.
“So what we did was that we called one of our Lawyers, former NBA Chairman, Chief OCJ Okocha to draft a form of an agreement that if at the end of the day you are not the person selected you will be willing to work with whoever will be selected, and everybody signed. As we were getting to the primary, the governor invited the Elders’ forum and said now we have reached the peak of the problem, what do we do?
“So we now asked who were the candidates that collected the forms from the riverine of South East? They were Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara and Tele Ikuru, former Deputy Governor, while the upland people were Olaka Worgu, Senator Lee Maeba, Dr Pidomson and kamalu, Comissioner for finance. These were upland so automatically they were eliminated and, of course, Sim Fubara and Tele Ikuru, (who is the cousin to Secondus who was also eliminated). And it remained only two of them, Commissioner for Finance and Accountant-General. The elders then asked the two of them to go inside and decide who should go and Sim Fubara became the choice’’.
Speaking separately Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke and Chief David Briggs said they had come to introduce their brothers and colleagues who have indicated interest to leave the APC and rejoin the PDP.
Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke said as information managers, the decampees would join forces with those of them who are already in the party to provide robust platform for the PDP to disseminate information and demanded that they be provided with timely information from the party leadership.
On his part, Chief Briggs said he was bringing to the PDP, great politicians who had made the APC in the area stronger, promising that they would deploy their experience as political juggernauts towsrds strengthening the PDP..
Leading the groups of defectors who visited the PDP Secretariat to renounce their membership of the APC were a one time Commissioner in the state and former governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Chief David Briggs and another one time Commissioner and former Federal Lawmaker, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke.
While the group led by Chief Briggs comprised of prominent APC members from Kalabari land, the one that was led by Chief Nwuke was made up of indigenous newspaper proprietors who were members of the APC.
The Rivers State PDP boss commended the decampees for taking the bold step, adding that they had come at the right time.
Amb. Akawor who reminded them that the PDP is a household name in the state said the party is in the DNA of every Rivers person, noting that the present administration led by Governor Nyesom Wike has achieved so much for Rivers people in terms of development even when no one gave him a chance.
Speaking separately, Hon. Nwuke and Chief Briggs said they had come to introduce their brothers and colleagues who had indicated interest to leave the APC and rejoin the PDP.
Hon. Nwuke said as information managers, the decampees would join forces with those of them who are already in the party to provide robust platform for the PDP to disseminate information and requested that they be provided with timely information from the party leadership.
On his part, Chief Briggs said he was bringing to the PDP great politicians who were the strength of APC in the area, promising that they would deploy their experience as political stalwarts towards strengthening the PDP.
By: Opaka Dokubo
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.