Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who announced his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, has declared that the era of mere “backyard support” for President Bola Tinubu is over.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the governor explained his move by stating he could not effectively support the President without fully identifying with him.
Persecondnews recalls that Fubara joins a list of PDP colleagues, including the Governors of Delta (Sheriff Oborevwori), Akwa Ibom (Umo Eno), Enugu (Peter Mbah), and Bayelsa (Duoye Siri), who have similarly defected.
The governor told the meeting: “We can’t support President (Tinubu) if we don’t fully identify with him, not just the backyard support.
“So we have taken that decision here today that everyone who has followed and suffered with me, the decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC.”
His defection came after visiting President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, December 8.
He reportedly arrived at the Presidential Villa about 5:01 p.m. and was received by the Presidential Protocol Liaison Officer before being escorted to the President’s office and departed at about 5:45 p.m.
Although the details of the meeting were not disclosed.
Persecondnews recalls that on March 18, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Gov. Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months over political tension in the oil-rich South South state.
The President said the decision was taken to restore stability in the state that has been witnessing political turmoil as a result of the disagreement between the state governor and the state lawmakers.
He then appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator, who has now been nominated as an ambassador.
Six months later, Fubara resumed office and pledged to restore peace and reconciliation in the state.
The governor, in a statewide broadcast, described the period (emergency rule) as enormously challenging but necessary to restore order and safeguard democratic institutions.
He said that, as governor, he chose to abide by the declaration and to co-operate fully with President Tinubu and the National Assembly, prioritising peace above personal or political gain.
“I resisted pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the emergency declaration, suspension of democratic structures, and other measures taken during the turbulent period,” he said.
The governor noted that after Tinubu brokered peace among contending parties, he, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State House of Assembly later resolved to bury the hatchet.
He said reconciliation was embraced in the best interest of Rivers’ people and for the progress of the state.
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