Fubara Receives PDP Delegation, Dismisses Defection Rumours

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has debunked rumours that he is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party as the crisis between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, rages.

He said this while receiving a delegation of the PDP Board of Trustees led by its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, at Government House in Port Harcourt.

This was contained in a statement by the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.

According to the statement, the Wabara-led delegation explained that the meeting was to foster peace in Rivers State amid the cold war between Fubara and Wike, as well as their supporters.

Wabara said the PDP feared losing Rivers State, hence, it became important to resolve the crisis.

Fubara said, “I want to thank the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees. Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership of this great party, I think today, I have a reconfirmation that I am still – not minding the drama around – a member of the party.

“And, I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the governor and the supporters of the party, genuinely.

“I need to use that word, genuinely, because we, that are here, are members of the Peoples Democratic Party undiluted.

“For once, I am happy to see the leaders, among whom are some founding fathers of the PDP, like Chief Bode George, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, joining the delegation here to talk about the unity of the party.

“It doesn’t matter the number of people who watered it (PDP). It has become what it is. I am happy that today, they are with us here to discuss the issues of Rivers State.

“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 our decision to stand by the party, still standing by the party, is not a wrong decision."

 He promised to be forthright with the delegation in their fact-finding mission in order to aid the resolution of the crisis in the state.

In his speech, the PDP BoT Chairman explained that they visited as the conscience of the party in search of peace and unity because of the ungodly tension in the state politics.

He said, “We, the Board of Trustees of this party, came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We were scared, Sir, when we heard or read speculations, perceptions or what have you, that the party, if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we lose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future."

Wabara thanked Fubara for “your resilience, your wisdom, and for the fact that you are still in this party.”