….As Wike Threatens To Cause Crisis in States Meddling In Rivers PDP Affairs.
By Attah Ede
The crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in River State has continued to worsen, as Governor Siminalayi Fubara was conspicuously absent from the party’s State Congress that was held on Saturday in Port Harcourt.
The State congress of the party was meant to elect officials that would pilot the affairs of the main opposition party in Rivers State for the next three years.
However, the congress witnessed the absence of the seating Governor who is of PDP extraction and supposed to actively participate in the exercise and ensure its hitch free and produce credible leaders of the party in the State.
Our correspondent gathered that, despite the absence of governor, the congress in Port Harcourt witnessed attendance from both current and former lawmakers, council chairmen, and other party members, as well as the monitoring presence of INEC officials and police as well as DSS.
Speaking during the State congress, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, warned other state governors in Nigeria trying to meddle in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, saying those craving to do so, must desist or be ready to face deep crisis in their respective States.
Barrister Wike boasted that he has the capacity and capability to invent a political crisis in any state whose governor interferes with Rivers party’s affairs.
He maintained that he will not allow anyone to take away the PDP structure in Rivers State from him and his supporters.
“Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states.
“When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take,” Wike said.
The former governor emphatically made reference to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, alluding that any governor who attempts to challenge him in Rivers State will face severe consequences.
“i was told they got some money from signature bonus and so their heads are getting big that you will put hand in my own state. Prepare because I have the capacity to also do the same thing in your own state
“Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn, whichever state you are from, as far as I know, that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you will never sleep in your state.
“So I have told them. Now you have started. When I will start, don’t say I’m the one trying to destroy PDP. You are the one trying to destroy PDP. Allow Rivers State to conduct the affairs of the party,”Wike stated.
Wike’s reaction follows a recent meeting of PDP governors in Taraba State, where the governors reiterated their support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a communiqué read by Chairman Bala Mohammed on August 23, the PDP Governors’ Forum called for a review of the party congress outcomes to restore Fubara’s leadership role in the state.
“The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State, and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state,” the communiqué stated.
