The Deputy National Legal Adviser of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Okechukwu Osuoha, has faulted the partys former National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, over his claims that the PDP had abandoned Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Gov. Fubara has been engrossed in a battle of political survival following a move by the 25 lawmakers loyal to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, to impeach him.
The PDP former Spokesman, had in a recent media outburst, said Gov. Fubara could not be faulted if he felt that PDP had abandoned him, adding that not even the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had deemed it fit to pay Fubara a solidarity visit.
But Osuoha who spoke with newsmen faulted Ologbondiyan over the thaught that PDP had abandoned Fubara, saying that such claims cannot be substantiated.
He said: The burden of proof rests upon him (Ologbondiyan). How can he say PDP abandoned a candidate they sponsored and he became a Governor? The party did not abandon anybody. The party has about 13 Governors and they are all coming around, and they relate well with all the organs of the party.
He is our state governor. We cannot abandon him unless he does anything to the contrary. The party will not abandon him just as a parent will not abandon his child.
The Deputy National Legal Adviser, recalled that recently, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, conveyed the partys position on the political crisis in Rivers when he declared that PDP will not tolerate any state of emergency in Rivers State.
Senator Wabara, had advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to succumb to any pressure by mischief makers behind the crisis in Rivers State to declare state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
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He had also called for the immediate withdrawal of police personnel that barricaded the Council headquarters in the state, following the expiration of the tenure of the former Council Chairmen
Wabara had warned that the crisis in Rivers was capable of consuming the entire country if no carefully handled, advising President Tinubu not to take any action that could further worsen the situation.
Osuoha said that the partys position as expressed by the BoT Chairman, had not changed, adding that the rule of law must be respected and Fubara allowed to govern the state as the its Executive Governor.
Recently our Boat Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara spoke up, and I totally adopt his position. We are in a democracy and democracy thrives by the rule of law. PDP wont accept any declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State. Our BoT Chairman will also visit him soon.
Whats playing out in Rivers is that they are desecrating our democracy. Its a matter of interests. For example, the expiration of the tenure of Local Government Chairmen is provided for in the law. And if the tenure of the Chairmen expires, there is no tenure elongation.
The Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state and he is in charge of the state. So, if he decides in the interim, to appoint caretaker committee to hold forth, is that the reason any person should call for declaration of state of emergency?
Those people calling for state of emergency in Rivers should be investigated. Who are those behind the troubles in that environment? Could it be they want to use it as excuse to call for state of emergency so that everywhere will come to a standstill? Thats not proper!
There should be no state of emergency in Rivers. They should obey the law. Let there be peace in Rivers State. The Governor is the Governor of the state with Executive powers. He should be allowed to bring development and dividends of democracy to the people. Whats playing out there is all about peoples interest.
The former Commissioner, however, noted that elected political office holders should rapport well with their party leadership and its organs.
No parents can abandon their child but that child should be responsible and play along. A governor is supposed to be aligning well with the party and always relating with the party Chairman and all the organs of the party; sponsoring the party because party is not a limited liability company. Its an association.
People sponsor the party, thats why they are called stakeholders. So, you play along with the party because it gave you the platform to become Governor. There is no individual candidate in Nigeria yet. Everything revolves around the party.
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