Wigwe’s Funeral: PDP Declares Akpabio Enemy of Rivers People

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State chapter has described the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio as an enemy of Rivers people, over his attack on Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the funeral service of Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, late Herbert Wigwe, his wife and son.

Akpabio, had during the funeral ceremony held last weekend, tackled Fubara on his comments on how political class struggles not minding that death could come at any time.

However, responding in a statement signed by the state PDP Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Sydney Gbara, said the, “Senate President derided the Governor, despite the pains of the funeral of the Wigwes, by asking him to quit politics than call Politicians to operate with moderation and fear of God.”

The PDP viewed Akpabio’s comments as insensitive and derogatory to the soul of the Wigwes and the office of the Government of Rivers State.

Gbara, expressed worry that, “Akpabio has consistently shown disdain and unimaginable level of hatred for Rivers State as shown in his utterances and actions against the state and its people.”

The PDP recalled that, “In 2021 when Youths of Niger Delta blocked the Akpajo -Onne section of the East/west road following its dilapidated nature, Senator Godswill Akpabio, then Minister of Niger Delta affairs, out of sheer hatred for Rivers people deceived the youths and indeed Niger Deltans by hiring some road construction equipment, moved them to the road, raising the false impression that the contractors had moved to site but not long after the youth withdrew from the road, Senator Akpabio moved the equipment from the road.

“This is the same road he uses while traveling to his state of Akwa Ibom. Another instance of callous display of obvious hatred for Rivers people by Senator Akpabio was the harassment and attempted abduction of an illustrious daughter of the State, Joy Nunieh during her appointment as NDDC Acting Managing Director.

“Recently, at a ceremony in Tai local government area, the same Akpabio had made a vexatious, sarcastic and ridiculous remark regarding 2027 Governorship election in Rivers State”.

With the above instances, the PDP spokesperson accused Akpabio of desiring to cause a situation of crisis in the state.

Gbara added, “it is indeed sad that Senator Akpabio has become a willing tool by enemy forces and agents of darkness to fan the embers of disunity and destabilisation, through reckless and provocative comments each time he visited Rivers State, something he dared not try in his home state of Akwa Ibom, also a PDP controlled State.”

The PDP therefore, advised the Senate President, “to refrain from verbal attacks and unguarded statements against the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the people of the State would no longer take suchlike reckless and irresponsible comments from a man who has taken the path of dishonour to join forces with enemies to destroy the state.

“We therefore enjoin Rivers people to continue to have faith in the present administration as it is poised to delivering democratic dividends to the good people of the State.”

The party leadership further urged Rivers people to rise up against petty actions and utterances capable of derailing the direction of the focused administration by joining forces with PDP in its bid to declare enemies of the state including persona non grata.