THE Governors’ Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why President Bola Tinubu interfered in the Rivers state political issue.
Rivers political tensions rose on Monday as some members in the house of assembly attempted to impeach the state’s governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fubara’s ally, Ehie Edison, was dismissed as the leader of the state assembly, but he was apparently voted as the new speaker hours later.
The state’s crisis is tied to a rumored feud between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and former governor.
Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, had said Tinubu intervened in the conflict, assuring that peace would be restored in the state.
The director general of the forum, C.I. D. Maduabum, said in a statement issued yesterday that Tinubu acted as the nation’s senior security officer to prevent the crisis from escalating.
Maduabum added that the clarification was important in light of “vicious and speculative” claims that the governor of Bauchi is driving the opposition party “into oblivion” with his visit to Tinubu on his intervention in the conflict.
“For the avoidance of doubts and to clarify the sequence of events, it was in fact the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), HE. Governor Malam Abdul-Rahwan Abdul-Razaq of Kwara State, an APC Governor, took leadership in intimating Mr. President of the situation in Rivers State,” the statement reads.
“All the Governors of 36 States supported the move. In particular, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, H.E Bala Mohammed, lent his weight and support to the move.
“It should be noted that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is a member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Vice-Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. The President, H.E Bola Tinubu, GCON, agreed to intervene as requested.
“It is most disingenuous for certain persons to lampoon the courtesies extended to Mr. President for his intervention. It should be noted that the events that played out in Rivers State had national security implications.
“It had the potential to lead to a breakdown of law and order. Indeed, the Rivers State Police Command acknowledged as much in its statement issued on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
“Mr. President as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and effectively the Chief Security Officer of the nation, had to intervene to nip the crises in the bud. Indeed, Nigeria’s history is replete with instances where a development in one state could snowball and affect the whole country.
“Rivers State is one of the major oil producing States in Nigeria. A breach of peace in Rivers State, considering its strategic value and importance, no doubt, could affect other States of the federation.”
Maduabum said it is a “sign of good leadership and a high sense of duty” that Mohammed summoned an emergency meeting of the forum to immediately address the situation.
“We think that he deserves credit for this,” Maduabum said.
“There is no way Governor Bala Mohammed, being a lover of peace in all parts of the country could fold his hands and fail to act or appreciate the good efforts of the President in finding a solution to the crisis.
“This further explains the shuttle diplomacy employed by the PDP Governors’ Forum led by Gov. Bala Mohammed in visiting and counselling the dramatis personae in the crises.
“Those castigating the Chairman and other members of the PDP Governors’ Forum seem to have forgotten that the unity, peace and tranquillity of the country transcend politics and political leanings.
“The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum has not in any way done anything wrong by thanking the efforts of the President to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.”
According to Maduabum, Mohammed is “not trying and will not do anything” to hand over the PDP, “a leading and formidable” opposition party, to Tinubu, who was elected on the platform of another party.
He stated that the problem in Rivers was not solely a PDP issue.
