‘Gov. Fubara is PDP Leader in Rivers State’ – PDP Governor Forum Tells Wike

Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday regarding the remarks made by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. They criticized his threats to create instability in their states due to their support for Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State. This reaction from the governors was in a statement released on Tuesday by Emmanuel Agbo, the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

As the political conflict intensifies between Wike and Fubara, who is both his former protégé and current rival, the PDP governors convened recently and reaffirmed their backing for Fubara, asserting that he should assume leadership of the Rivers PDP. In response to the governor’s stance, Wike, during a speech in Port Harcourt last weekend, cautioned them to refrain from interfering in Rivers State matters, threatening that he could set fire and political conflict in their respective states if they did not comply.

In a response issued on Tuesday by Agbo, the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) characterized Wike’s threats as baseless. “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, led by H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkarim Mohamed (CON), the Governor of Bauchi State, along with all member-governors, has been drawn to a widely circulated news report in which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Barrister Nyesom Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, made disparaging and threatening remarks concerning the member-governors of the forum.”

This has raised significant concerns in the public domain regarding the unity and peaceful coexistence within our party.
“Wike’s statements and threats aimed at inciting discord in the PDP-controlled states are reckless, irresponsible, and unequivocally unacceptable, as they jeopardize efforts to foster peace, cohesion, collaboration, and mutual respect among the leaders and members of the party. It is particularly regrettable that such comments are made by an individual who was once a member of this esteemed forum as a former governor.”

The governors of the PDP reaffirmed their endorsement of Fubara as the leader of the PDP in Rivers, highlighting that Wike had previously enjoyed the same privilege during his tenure as governor. “Our stance regarding the management of PDP affairs in Rivers State, as unanimously agreed upon during our 2024, 3rd, and 4th Meetings held in Enugu and Taraba states, is not open to revision by any individual, regardless of their status. “We wish to clarify that the position of the forum is not personal and does not, in any way, diminish the significance of any party stakeholder. Instead, as dedicated members of the party, we are committed to upholding the principles that ensure order, eliminate conflicting loyalties as seen in Rivers State, and prevent distractions for the governor in fulfilling his responsibilities. Wike fully benefited from this arrangement.”

The governors expressed their “irrevocable commitment” to collaborating with the party’s National Working Committee to ensure that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State receives all the privileges due to him as a governor elected under our party’s banner, at both state and national levels.

They emphasized the necessity for the NWC to take appropriate actions to resolve the political turmoil in Rivers State. Furthermore, they stated, “It is essential for all party members, including Wike, to unite in pursuit of shared objectives rather than engaging in personal conflicts. “The forum insists that it is the responsibility of the National Working Committee of the PDP to utilize both official mechanisms and informal channels to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis within its Rivers State chapter.”