Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has affirmed that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He spoke to dismiss speculations in some quarters that he has left the PDP.
This is even as the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Adolphus Wabara, said that if the PDP ceases to be the dominant and ruling party in Rivers State, then Nigeria’s future is lost.
These positions were made public when Governor Fubara hosted a delegation of the Board of Trustees of PDP at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Governor Fubara said: “I want to thank the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees.
“Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership first, of this great party, I think today, I have gotten a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of this party.
“And, I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the Governor and the supporters of the party genuinely.
“I need to use that word genuinely because we that are here are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, undiluted.
“I am also happy that, for once, the leaders, the founding fathers of PDP, we can’t take it away from leaders like, Chief Bode George. We can’t take it away from Amino. You are the ones who sat down, crafted the constitution of PDP, gave it the name, and nurtured it, it doesn’t matter the number of people who watered it, and it became what it is today
“I am happy that today, they are with us here to discuss the issue of Rivers State.
“I want to assure members of our party, genuine members of PDP that are here with us, that this is another hope to show that our decision to stand by the party, still standing by the party, is not wrong.
“This visit is for one purpose. What is the problem? how did it start or what led to it and how did it degenerate to what it is today?
“I would prefer that when we go to the executive session of the meeting, I would then discuss it.
“I am very conscious of the importance of information. I know that a lot of information is flying here and there. But, I know that whatever I have said anywhere, I have still maintained it.
“What I have said in Abuja is the same thing I say in Port Harcourt. If I have had any encounters with anybody in Lagos, I don’t think my story has changed.
“So, I strongly believe that when we go into the executive session, I will let the board who have visited us know or to hear my side of the story.
“But, so far, what is important this afternoon is that we are still members of the party and the owners of the party have visited us.
“So, for those people outside who are carrying all sorts of rumor and propaganda, at least this visit will rest that propaganda and tell the world that we are and we remain members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”
In his speech, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Adolphus Wabara, spoke and said: “We, the Board of this party, came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“We’ve been reading all kinds of things on the pages of newspapers and the Internet for those who are internet savvy. But, we, as elders of this party, decided to come to hear from the horse’s mouth.
“First of all, we want to thank you for still being there, because this party should not be allowed to die. And, it’s for this very reason that I am thanking you on behalf of my colleagues, and as you can see, it’s not from one geo-political zone. We are well-represented nationally.
“We were scared, Sir when we heard or read speculations, perceptions, or what have you, that the party if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we lose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future.
“We don’t want what happened in 2015 and 2023 to repeat itself. These men and women you see here are very neutral, but as the conscience of the party, we must go by the rule of law.
“And anything you do going by the rule of law can never be wrong. Maybe delayed, but it cannot be wrong.
“We know you are caring for this party and that is why you’ve been so patient all along to take all the things.
“I don’t want to describe it; otherwise, as a governor, we have a former governor here; I doubt if he would have taken as much.
“So, on behalf of this party once again, let me thank you for your resilience, your wisdom, and for the fact that you are still in this party.
“And to assure you that the Board of Trustees under my watch and with these serious-minded Nigerians will deal with the matter as constitutionally allowed.”
