Governors in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their weight behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his faceoff with his predecessor and godfather and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The political crisis has factionalised the Rivers State House of Assembly, with one group of legislators pledging loyalty to Wike against those gravitating towards Fubara.
Voicing their solidarity for their Rivers colleague, the PDP governors issued a communiqué at the end of their meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, July 17.
“The Forum notes the crises in the Rivers State Chapter of the party and commits to ensuring peace. The Forum has resolved to stand by His Excellency, Sir Sim Fubara, Governor of Rivers State,” the communiqué reads.
Those at the meeting included: Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) as Chairman; Governor Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) as vice chairman; Governor Peter Mbah as host; Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) as member.
Others were: Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Governor Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Governor Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Governor Agbu Kefas (Taraba); and Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
The governors also advised those fanning the embers of conflict and crisis with the aim of distracting the Governor and destabilising the government to desist, and allow him deliver good governance to Rivers people unimpeded.
Other issues deliberated at the meeting, according to the statement, include the upcoming party congresses, Edo and Ondo governorship elections, implications of Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, protracted national minimum wage negotiations, State of the economy, among others.
The Governors described as lackluster the approach adopted by All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government in addressing the growing inflation, worsening corruption and falling standard of living in the face of excruciating economic hardship in the country.
They, therefore, tasked the Federal Government to be more pragmatic with tenable policies, actions and programmes that can rescue the economy from the woods, and set it on the path that can provide relief to Nigerians.
While addressing concerns of Nigerians on the protracted national minimum wage negotiations, Mohammed said, “The minimum wage negotiations are becoming unduly protracted. In the face of the attendant unprecedented hardship and impoverishment of majority of our people, the Forum resolves: That labour’s demand for a substantial salary raise is eminently justified, and therefore, commands the total support of the Forum.
“While the Forum fully supports labour’s demand, agreement must take into consideration the ability to pay by the local government, sub-national and Federal Government”.
On the upcoming congresses, Governor Mohammed said: “In the spirit of the founding fathers of our great party who adopted internal democracy as the fundamental principle on which our party was built, the congresses leading to the election of party leaders, at the various tiers, must be all-inclusive, transparent, fair and in strict compliance with the Constitution of the party.
Governor Mohammed also stated that the PDPNGF believes in the efficacy of the local government system, which ensures that governance is brought closer to the people as provided in the Constitution.
It is the reason, he said, the forum will continue to support the autonomy of the local governments as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On the Supreme Court judgement, he said, “The Forum believes in the efficacy of the local government system which ensures that governance is brought closer to the people as provided for in the Constitution.”
