Raging battle for the soul of Rivers PDP

By Chris Eze, Port Harcourt

Another dimension has been introduced into the altercation between the immediate past governor of Rivers State and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and his anointed successor and incumbent governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

Before now, what has been in the news is the alleged plot by the FCT minister to use the instrumentality of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara since both fell apart few months ago.

The FCT minister though a card carrying member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) unabashedly worked for the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the 2023 presidential election and ipso facto, has been rewarded with a ministerial position.

Besides, he has also been handed the structure of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Rivers State by the national leadership of the party.

Wike according to analysts is allegedly  plotting to be in charge of the Rivers APC and the PDP at the same time, hence the doctored list of the Rivers State PDP  Caretaker Committee list  approved by the National Executive Council, NEC of PDP.

Since the doctored list was made public, palpable fear has gripped political actors in Governor Fubara’s camp who saw the hand of former Governor Wike in the plot to hijack the state exco of PDP from Governor Fubara.

Expectedly,  Governor Fubara has been restless since the doctored list surfaced and has been shouting and castigating the list.

He did not stop at that, he rushed to the National headquarters of the PDP where the national leadership of the party disowned the list circulating in Port Harcourt.

Governor  Fubara speaking after the meeting with the NWC at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza in Abuja, on Thursday evening, restated that the resolutions of a meeting held between the NWC and members of the Board of Trustees (BOTs) and PDP Governors’ Forum in Abuja in March on the issue remain valid.

Governor Fubara reiterated the position of the party that the executive officers whose tenures had expired in March, shall remain in their various capacities until the three months’extension period approved by the NWC elapses, and new congresses conducted to replace them.

He recalled that a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary, Hon Umar M. Bature, dated Wednesday, March 27, 2024, addressed to the Chairman, Rivers State Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Aaron Chukwuemeka, and titled: “Approval of Wards, Local Government Area and State Caretaker Committee Members for Rivers State”, had clearly resolved the issue of the authentic members of the Caretaker Committees at the affected levels.

The letter according to him was copied the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum; Deputy National Chairman, South, His Excellency, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and National Legal Adviser, Ajibade Kamaldeen Adeyemi, SAN.

The letter according to the Governor reads in full, “Following the expiration of the elected Ward, LGA, and State Executive Members in Rivers State, the National Working Committee (NWC), pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of our Party, has, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) approved the appointment of the expired Excos as Caretaker Committee Members.

“For the avoidance of doubt, attached to this letter is the authentic list of the Caretaker Committee Members in Rivers State. These Caretaker Committees shall run the affairs of our Party at their appropriate levels for a period of three (3) months effective from the dates of their expiration, i.e.  March 14, 18, 21, 2024 for Wards, LGA, and State, respectively. 

“Please note that the NWC equally approved that anywhere vacancies have occurred due to death, removal, resignation, or defection, such vacancies shall not be filled.

“While thanking you for your continuous commitment, please accept the assurances of the NWC’s highest regards”.

Governor Fubara emphasized that the party stands on the agreement reached on the issue as encapsulated in the letter by the NWC to the State Chairman of PDP dated March 27, adding that no amount of intimidation, clandestine moves, wasteful lobbying and needless expenditure of public funds will change the position already taken.

The Governor stated that the list purported to be members of the Caretaker Committees of the party in the state was only the imagination of its purveyors, and advised those whose names were removed in the fake list and gullible members of the public to ignore it in its entirety.

He said that the party did not at any time remove or replace the names of officers whose tenures had been officially extended for three months, pending possible National Executive Committee ratification on April 18.

Governor Fubara insisted that what was published on Thursday and circulated on social media is not only fake, concocted and manipulated to suit the desperate ambitions of enemies of the State and its people, but a deliberate attempt to provoke members and cause discord in the party.

He observed that the list published in some national dailies and circulated on social media on Thursday was the handiwork of politicians who were spending public funds to cause unnecessary tension, anxiety and friction in the polity, and also distract the Government from the real task of governance in the State.

The Governor urged the elected officers of the party at ward, local government, and state levels whose names were removed and replaced with fictitious names to remain calm, and go about their legitimate duties as officers of the party.

He also warned those fomenting trouble and fanning the embers of confusion and disunity to retrace their steps, and embrace peace or face severe consequences.

The Governor also warned those whose names were forced into the fake and fabricated list of purported Caretaker Committee members being circulated not to be deceived by anybody with unmerited appointment, and avoid parading themselves or showing their presence at any party offices pretending to be officials, as anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law for forgery and impersonation.

Also reacting, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Sydney Tambari Gbara condemned the doctored list insisting that Rivers State PDP exco is intact.

In a statement entitled ” Rivers State PDP Exco Intact signed by the Publicity Secretary, he said the attention of the state PDP  has been drawn to a list purported to be members of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.

“Let me inform our teeming members, loyalists and supporters that the list flying on the Social Media space is fake and should be ignored.

For purposes of clarity, the National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party following the expiration of the tenure of some States, local government and Ward Executives had directed after a meeting of the National working committee, the BOT and the Governors forum that the old Exco members whose tenure had expired, should transform into Caretaker Committees without anybody being added or removed, not even those who died or resigned from the Exco should be replaced.

On this strength I want to state that the purported list of Caretaker committees seen on social media, is concocted by enemies of the State whose stock in trade is to constantly exploit every means to mislead gullible people, causing unnecessary distractions in the State.

The list circulating around is fake in its entirety and not in conformity with the position of the leadership of the party, hence, it should be ignored.

The fake list in question is the handiwork of desperate empty drums, making loud noise just to infuriate our supporters and cause unnecessary anxiety in the political space. The concocted list is from enemies of the State who used looted state funds to procure it.

“We assure you, that all members of the party Exco who transformed into the Caretaker Committees remained intact with no one added or removed as contained in the Memo released by the National Secretariat of our party.

“We also encourage our teeming supporters to remain calm and continue supporting His Excellency Sir  Siminalayi Fubara, Ksc, GSSRS, Executive  Governor of River State and the leader of the Party in the State”.

According to analysts, the last has not been heard in the raging battle for the soul of Rivers State ahead of 2027 general election between the FCT minister and his allies on one hand and Governor Sim Fubara and his followers on the other hand.