PDP Governors: Why Tinubu, Others Intervened in Rivers Crisis

*Say it’s not PDP crisis, has national security implications 

*Rivers National Assembly caucus declares support for Wike

Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors Forum, (PDP-GF),  yesterday said that President Bola Tinubu and Nigerian governors intervened in the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesom Wike,  because the crisis was not solely a party matter.
It said that if not for the quick intervention, the crisis had the capacity to affect the security situation in the South-south geopolitical zone as well as its oil production and the economy in general.

In a statement in Abuja, the Director General of the PDP governors, Cyril Maduabum, explained that it was disingenuous for certain persons to lampoon the courtesies extended to  the 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.

“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 stated

He  added that it was a sign of good leadership and a high sense of duty that Governor Bala Mohammed, also summoned and held an emergency meeting of the forum immediately the Rivers state matter came up.
‘’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,” the statement stressed.

The statement added that Mohammed was not about handing over the PDP, which it described as a leading and formidable opposition party, to the president, who was elected on the platform of another party.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State caucus of the National Assembly yesterday declared its support for Wike in the raging political battle in the state.
The House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who led other persons in a solidarity visit to the former governor, also said that in barely three months, Wike was changing the face of the FCT.

The members of the Rivers State National Assembly caucus comprised all the three senators from Rivers State and 11 House of Representatives members.
They included: Senators Barinada Mpigi, Ipalibo Banigo, who coincidentally was deputy governor to Wike when he was governor as well as Allwell Onyeso.
Members of the House of Representatives in attendance were:  Felix Nwike, Boniface Emerungwa, Blessing Emezureke, Victor Onozor, Fun Deakor, Solomon Bob, Kelechi Nworgu, Kingsley Chinda, Hart Cyril Goodwill and Allison Anderson.

Addressing the caucus, Wike expressed firm opposition to overt moves to dismantle the political structures, which he said he had been building since 2015.
He made it clear that he was not interested in the governance of Rivers State as his hands were full with his new job as FCT minister.
“I am not interested in the governance of Rivers State. I am here as governor in FCT, but I am interested in the political structure we have built over the years in Rivers state.

“Anybody who tries it will get the resistance of his life, anybody who puts his hands in Rivers State political structures, what you see, you see,” Wike warned.
He also cautioned and tagged those  accusing him of demanding 25 per cent as ‘ignorant people’.
“l was governor for eight years.  I am now FCT minister, not just minister and some will say that I am asking for 25 per cent; that is madness,” Wike said.
He also charged the federal legislators to learn to appreciate those who in one way or the other contributed to their lives and not to disappoint the state and the country.
“Those of you that God has given the opportunity, don’t disappoint your state, don’t disappoint Nigerians. When you make a mistake, we will call you to order, take it in good faith, don’t say we are coming for kickbacks,” he added.