Opposition lawmakers defend Fubara, say PDP betrayed him

The Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State should not be faulted if he chooses to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed him.

In a statement issued by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmakers responded to widespread speculation that Fubara may soon join the APC, following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Lagos residence.

They alleged that the PDP had effectively abandoned the governor and ceded its political structure in Rivers State to a serving minister in the APC.

According to the coalition, the PDP not only failed to stand by Fubara during attempts to impeach him but also backed defecting lawmakers who moved to the APC and opposed the governor.

Read Also: Fubara hints at reconciliation with Wike

They accused the party’s leadership of siding with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, despite Wike’s open rift with Fubara.

“The PDP has done little beyond issuing press statements,” Ugochinyere said.

“Since the political crisis escalated in Rivers and a state of emergency was declared, the party has taken no concrete action to support Governor Fubara. Instead, it continues to cozy up to those working against him.”

The lawmakers emphasised that if Fubara decides to join the APC, it would be a response to political survival in the face of abandonment by his own party.

“There are rumours making the rounds that Siminalayi Fubara who had been suspended from office as Rivers State Governor after the declaration of state of emergency in the state is planning to defect from the PDP to the APC, especially with his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

“Well, if Governor Fubara eventually joins the APC, he should not be blamed but his party, the PDP betrayed him. It will not be his fault but that of PDP, which gave the former governor, Nyseom Wike, a serving minister in the APC government, the party’s structure.

“PDP equally supported the lawmakers who decamped to the APC against the governor, and wanted to impeach him but his party did little or nothing to protect Fubara as its leadership was busy hobnobbing with Wike. Even after his suspension, what did PDP do to help Fubara apart from issuing mere statement(s) to condemn the president’s action in the afternoon and support it in the night,” Ugochinyere stated.