Atiku’s Men In Rivers Collapse Into Fubara’s Camp
● Pledge support for President Bola Tinubu, urge him to caution his “appointee”
By PHC Telegraph
Members of the defunct PDP Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State who are close associates of the party’s presidential candidate and the Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have thrown their full weight behind the Rivers Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Fubara, the occupant of Government House, Port Harcourt, was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party which has held sway in the State since the return to democratic rule in Nigeria.
The declaration of support for Fubara by the group which enjoys followership in parts of the State is coming as the swan-song sung by many Rivers people, worried at first by the initial face off between Wike and Fubara, change from the rendition of a mournful dirge into one of great expectation and joy.
Those who understand the rhythm of the drums that are beating at this time in the Rivers political space are breaking into a new dance step.
It is not necessarily the philosophy behind the song, “Dey your day make I dey my day”, which heralded the liberation of Fubara from the clutches of some grandmasters who had allegedly planned to hold him hostage that is driving the spirit of the revolution.
Chief Abiye Sekibo (centre) flanked on his left by Prince Uche Secondus, former National Chairman of the PDP and Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and on his right by Lee Maeba, former Chairman of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council and Sir Celestine Omehia during a news conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday, 28th March, 2024.
It is a brand new song, a clarion call for peace, unity, stability, understanding and cooperation which appears to be urging Rivers people who are surging forward in the direction of Fubara to rally round his leadership.
The other day Boniface Emerengwa, a Rep member at the National Assembly declared his support for Sim.
The federal lawmaker said he was at the Government House to stand with the State Governor, saying that the constitutions of the nation and the PDP recognise the fact the State’s Chief Executive is the number one citizen and the leader.
Emerengwa noted that there is no need for a fruitless fight against a leader elected by the people who is fulfilling his responsibility in office.
Emerengwa was accompanied to Government House by three other House of Representatives members, Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante of Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency; Hon Boma Goodhead of Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency; and Hon Anderson Allison Igbiks of Okrika-Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency, who are strong supporters of Governor Fubara.
These lawmakers are part of the bastion support that is garnering understanding for the Fubara administration on the floor of the National Assembly.
Thursday, the leadership of the Campaign Organization in Rivers State filed out behind the Governor.
Members of the team said in a signed statement read by Chief Abiye Sekibo, that they have decided to work wholeheartedly with the elected Governor of Rivers State.
The group also declared its loyalty and support for the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
They said they had accepted the verdict of the nation’s Supreme Court on the outcome of the presidential election, saying they would join the swelling ranks of Nigerians who are supporting the President’s bid to repair the economy, redirect the country, and combat banditry as well as insecurity.
It is now clear, Atiku’s chief campaigners in Rivers State said through Sekibo, that the time has come to set aside differences and allow ample room for good governance to prevail.
They acknowledged the need for the State and Federal Governments to work together in the overall interest of the nation and the benefit of Rivers people.
But they urged the President to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, stressing that they had nothing against the decision of Tinubu to take the former governor of the State as his appointee.
They warned Wike to be mindful of his utterances against the Rivers Governor and reminded him that Rivers people are not vassals who are treated like mere slaves.
Vowing that the Rivers people will not allow any division, particularly along ethnic lines, the pro-Atiku group in the PDP added that they are unhappy with the insults that Wike is hurling at a former State Governor, Dr Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili (retired).
The statement was signed by Chief Abiye Sekibo and Senator Lee Maeba on behalf of Atiku’s Campaign Organization and the followership of the party which worked for Atiku in the last election season.
Full text of the statement issued by the leadership of the defunct Presidential Campaign Organization:
