Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reiterated their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State, despite tensions with the former governor, Nyesom Wike. Wike, now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has openly clashed with Fubara over control of the party in the state.
The disagreement between the two political figures has escalated in recent months. Wike, who once mentored Fubara, has expressed his displeasure with the current leadership arrangement in Rivers State. He has warned PDP governors to stay out of Rivers State affairs, threatening to retaliate in their respective states if they continue to support Fubara.
Wike’s aggressive stance has sparked controversy, but it hasn’t deterred the governors from maintaining their position. The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, has firmly endorsed Fubara as the rightful leader of the party in Rivers State.
During a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Governor Mohammed emphasized the unity of the governors in backing Fubara. He stated that their decision was final, and the NWC had also thrown its support behind this stance.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mohammed said, “The decision is in order and that is how it is supposed to be. Governor Fubara is the leader of the party in the state.” He added that the NWC’s delegation had fully supported the position of the PDP Governors’ Forum, making it clear that Fubara’s leadership is legitimate and should not be contested.
While acknowledging the strained relationship between Wike and Fubara, Mohammed noted that efforts were being made behind the scenes to reconcile the two political figures. He expressed hope that they could eventually work together for the benefit of the PDP, saying, “The decision is in order and that is how it is supposed to be. Governor Fubara is the leader of the party in the state. It is along this line that we collectively agreed for the rule of law, and the delegation gave their firm commitment and support for the position of the PDP Governors Forum in Rivers State.”
“We all know the relationship between the FCT Minister and the current Governor of Rivers state which is that of the mentor and the mentee. We are working behind the scenes to ensure they come together to work together in a manner that PDP is known for.
“Certainly, it is not something we can dictate here but we have summoned the courage and the will to ensure that the correct thing is done,” he said
