PDP, APC Move Close To Alliance In Rivers, As Okpara, Secondus, Sekibo, Others Declare Support For Tinubu, Fubara

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) appear to be moving towards an alliance long canvassed by the immediate Governor of Rivers State and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, following high level pledge of loyalty for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Simi Fubara.

Fubara who is Wike’s successor has rebuffed all attempts at a unification and refused to grant Wike his wishes to control the PDP machinery and have his loyalists take control of the state government.

This brewed a crisis that led to exchange of hot words and set the state on a path of political violence.

But despite the seemingly political differences with Wike, top PDP members in the state including its former National Chairman, Uche Secondus, a man Wike was blamed for his exit from office; and members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party for the 2023 general elections have pledged their support for Tinubu and Fubara on Thursday in Rivers State.

Among them were former Minister of Transportation and the Director-General, PDP-PCC Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara; Celestine Omehia, former deputy governor of the state, Tele Ikuru; Senator Lee Maeba; and former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson. among others.

Speaking during a press conference on behalf of the group, Sekibo explained that, “The elections are since over and the Supreme Court has ruled on the finality of that contest, pronounced His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) 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”, he said.

He stressed that Fubara’s emergence as governor and subsequent confirmation by the Supreme Court, “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.”

Speaking on the political crisis in the state, he attacked Wike, whom he called selfish, regarding him as one man’s attempt to control over seven million people.

He said in the last few months, “the peace of our state has been disturbed by the 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, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON); and his wife Her Excellency Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, CFR, JSC, DSSRS because they refused to support him in his failed attempt to impeach the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS).

“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 the 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”.

Blaming Wike, the former secretary to the state government (SSG) warned that “we the Rivers people will not standby while an individual decides that we will not sleep with our two eyes closed,” alleging the FCT minister has threatened publicly to destabilise the state.

He said, “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”.

While telling the President that Fubara enjoys total support from the people of the state, he further warned that “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”.

He noted the economic importance of the state, warning the president that it’s too strategic to be toyed with, especially at a time Nigeria should be looking to maximise her oil production to meet her OPEC quota.

While calling all Nigerians to support the president, he added that “we will collectively overcome these hard economic and security challenges facing us all”.

Also speaking, the former national chairman of the PDP, Secondus said, “We will return our Governor in 2027. Governor Fubara will control the structure of our party 100%. The Governor is the leader of the party in the state.”