…Describes visit as another hope for party
…As Sen Wabara lauds Rivers State Governor for patience, maturity in handling crisis.
…. Says contending issues will be constitutionally addressed.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has stated that contrary to propaganda orchestrated in the media over the uncertainty of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he and his teeming supporters remain the genuine members of the party in Rivers State.
Governor Fubara who disclosed this while addressing members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who paid him a visit at Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said the visit of the BoT has put to rest the falsehood peddled by some quarters over his membership of the party.
The Governor thanked members of the Peoples Democratic Party (BoT) led by the Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wagbara, for coming to Rivers State to ascertain the true position of things in the state and assured that he will abreast them with his own side of the story which he has consistently maintained to put the records straight.
The governor emphasised the importance of clarifying that position to discountenance rumours being peddled in some quarters that he had left the PDP.
Fubara said as was normally expected, he doubted his membership of the PDP at some time but the visitation from the BoT had offered a stronger conviction that he was a member of the PDP family.
He said: “I want to thank the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees. Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership first, of this great party, I think today, I have gotten a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of this party.
“And, I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the Governor and the supporters of the party, genuinely. I need to use that word, genuinely, because we, who are here, are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), undiluted.
“For once, I am happy to see the leaders, among whom are some founding fathers of the PDP, like Chief Bode George, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, joining the delegation here to talk about the unity of the party.”
Fubara recalled their courage, sacrifices and foresight when they crafted the Constitution of the PDP and nurtured it to become what people had come to know and greatly benefited from.
The governor said: “It doesn’t matter the number of people who watered it (PDP) and it became what it is. I am happy that today, they are with us here to discuss the issue of Rivers State.
“I want to assure members of our party, genuine members of PDP that are here with us, that this is another hope to show that our decision to stand by the party, still standing by the party, is not a wrong decision”.
Fubara stated that “the visit by the delegation of BoT is for one purpose, to ascertain what is the problem that has caused so much dissatisfaction and tearing down the party; how it started and how it degenerated to what it is today.”
The governor said in such efforts to search out the truth, it was also vital for them to understand how passionately he cherished the importance of information and the need to stay on the path of truth.
Fubara said: “I am very conscious of the importance of information. I know that a lot of information is flying here and there. But, I also know that whatever I have said anywhere, I have still maintained that position.
“What I have said in Abuja is the same thing I say in Port Harcourt. If I have had any encounter with anybody in Lagos, I don’t think my story has changed. So, I strongly believe that when we go into the executive session, I will let the board members who have visited us know or hear my side of the story.
“But, so far, what is important this afternoon is that we are still members of the party, and the owners of the party have visited us.
“So, for those people outside who are carrying all sorts of rumour and propaganda, at least, this visit will put those propaganda to rest, and to tell the world that we are and we remain members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
On his part, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, BoT, Senator Adolphus Wagbara thanked Governor Fubara for the warmth reception given the BoT members, stating that the visit was to bolster peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.
He explained that the BoT, as the elders and conscience of the party were genuinely concerned about media hyping over the position of the PDP in Rivers State, and have come to know the real state of affairs of the party, while assuring that contending issues will be constitutionally addressed to reposition the Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wabara acknowledged that Fubara had demonstrated enormous care for the PDP, saying the governor had been patient with the inactivity of the party leadership amidst the crisis.
He said: “We, the Board of Trustees of this party, came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We have been reading all kinds of things on the pages of newspapers and the Internet, for those who are Internet savvy. But, we, as elders of this great party decided to come to hear from the horse’s mouth.
“First of all, we want to thank you for still being there because this party should not be allowed to die. And, it is for this very reason that I am thanking you, on behalf of my colleagues, and as you can see, it’s not from one geo-political zone. We are well-represented nationally.
“We were scared Sir, when we heard or read speculations, perceptions or what have you, that the party, if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we lose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future.
“We don’t want what happened in 2015, and 2023 to repeat itself. These men and women you see here are very neutral. But as the conscience of the party, we must go by the rule of law. And anything you do, going by the rule of law, can never be wrong. It may be delayed, but it cannot be wrong.
“I don’t want to describe it. Otherwise, as a Governor, we have former Governors here, I doubt if they would have taken as much as you have. So, on behalf of this party, once again, let me thank you for your resilience, your wisdom, and the fact that you are still in this party.
“And to assure you that the Board of Trustees under my watch and with these serious-minded Nigerians, will deal with the matter as constitutionally allowed”.
Speaking after the meeting, Wabara expressed appreciation to Fubara for allowing them to hear his side of the story, and noted with optimism, that the political crisis in the state would soon be resolved.
He assured that the delegation would meet with the other party in the crisis to also hear from them, as according to him, “there is always two sides to a coin”, adding that it was better late than never.
Wabara reiterated that the PDP under his watch as BoT Chairman, would not allow what happened to PDP in 2015 and 2023 to repeat itself and would not stand helplessly while the largest party in Africa was being destroyed by a few individuals.
He said that based on its findings, the BoT would make its recommendations to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP for implementation insisting that the party must be united to win the 2027 elections.
Peoplesmind
