Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, said his teeming supporters and himself remain the genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State contrary to propaganda orchestrated in the media.
Governor Fubara, who disclosed this while addressing members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP who paid him a visit at Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said the visit has put to rest the falsehood peddled over his membership of the party.
The Governor thanked members of the PDP BoT, led by its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wagbara, for coming to Rivers State to ascertain the true position of things in the state.
“I want to thank you for taking all the troubles to come to Rivers State to see the governor and the supporters of the party genuinely. We that are here are the undiluted members of the PDP”, he said.
The Governor commended the founding fathers of the party, including Chief Bode George and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, for the huge sacrifices and commitments they made to keep the party afloat with the support of other party leaders.
“Today, I am happy that you are with us here to discuss the issue of Rivers State and I want to assure members of our party, genuine members of the PDP that are here with us that this is another hope to show that standing by the Party is not a wrong decision.
“This visit is for one purpose, what is the problem, how did it start or would I say what led to it and how did it degenerate to what it is today. I will prefer that when we go to the Executive session, I will then discuss it. I am very conscious of the importance of information. I know that a lot of information is flying here and there but I know that whatever I have said anywhere I will still maintain it. What I have said in Abuja, is the same thing I say in Port Harcourt.”
“So, for those people outside who are carrying all sorts of rumours and propaganda, at least this visit will put to rest those propaganda and to tell the world that we are and still remain members of the PDP”, he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the PDP, BoT, Senator Wagbara, thanked Governor Fubara for the warmth reception given the 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.
Wagbara assured that contending issues will be constitutionally addressed to reposition the Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
His words: “We, the Board of this party came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party. We have been reading all kinds of things on the pages of newspapers and on the internet for those who are internet savvy. But we as the elders of this party decided to come and hear from the horses mouth.
“First of all we want to thank you for still being there because this party should not be allowed to die. And for that very reason I am thanking you on behalf of my colleagues and as you can see it is not from one geopolitical zone. We are well represented nationally.
“We were scared when we read or heard speculations, perceptions and what have you, that the party if we are not careful might loose Rivers State and of course if we loose Rivers State, then Nigeria has lost the 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 can never be wrong. It may be delayed but it can never be wrong.
“We know you are caring for this party and that is why you have been so patient all along to take all the invectives, otherwise as a governor, we have former governors here, I doubt if they would have taken that much.
“So, on behalf of this party once again, let me thank you for your resilience, your wisdom and for 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. You see the problem we have here is the Judiciary, but then that is a matter for another day.”
