The Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum has reaffirmed Governor Siminialayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State.
The PDP Governors' Forum chairman stated this on Tuesday night, saying that his words were in line with the resolutions and agreement made by the party’s national working committee and the Governors' Forum.
He said the decision was premised on the party's established practice of recognising the governor as the party leader in the state.
A leadership crisis has been brewing in Rivers State between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who's currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The bone of contention is who controls the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structures in the state.
Wike, a powerful figure in Rivers politics, has accused Fubara of ingratitude and attempting to dismantle the political structure that brought him to power. He's vowed not to support Fubara in his political endeavors anymore, citing the governor's alleged lies and lack of appreciation for those who helped him rise to power.
The crisis has been ongoing for some time, with 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, citing Fubara's alleged withholding of funds.
The situation has been tense, with Wike gaining the upper hand in the PDP leadership crisis, as the National Working Committee (NWC) has thrown its weight behind him.
However, according to Governor Bala, the party leadership has pitched their tent behind Fubara as the recognised leader of PDP in the state, insisting the party’s structure will also work in his favour.
He said: “We discussed extensively the need for collaboration between the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, PDP Governors’ Forum, and the National Working Committee so that some of the issues that result in the litigation, and issues that cannot be resolved will be resolved on the table.
“It is along this line that we collectively agree on the need for the rule of law, and the delegations give firm commitment or support to the position of the Governors’ Forum PDP in Rivers State.
“We have an established practice in which any governor in any state that is coming from the party is the leader of the party and we therefore have the structure of the party for sustainability.
“The commitment, on behalf of the Governors’ Forum, we are very grateful to the National Working Committee ably led by the legal adviser. We also discussed some of the legal issues that are lingering and I used this opportunity, on behalf of the Governors’ Forum, to ask the delegation to convey our appreciation to the acting national chairman and to insist, please those committee they have set up on reconciliation and disciplinary issues should work in a manner that we will do it through a consensus, through an agreement.”
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