The Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors Forum has defended President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The forum said the crisis was not solely a party matter and that it had the capacity to affect the security situation in the South-south geopolitical zone as well as its oil production and the economy in general.
In a statement issued by the forum’s Director General, Cyril Maduabum, the governors said it was disingenuous for certain persons to lampoon the courtesies extended to the president for his intervention.
“It should be noted that the events that played out in Rivers State had national security implications; it had the potential to lead to a breakdown of law and order. Indeed, the Rivers State Police Command acknowledged as much in its statement,” Maduabum said.
He said that President Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and effectively the chief security officer of the nation, had to intervene to nip the crisis in the bud.
“Indeed, Nigeria’s history is replete with instances where a development in one state could snowball and affect the whole country,” he added.
“Rivers state is one of the major oil-producing states in Nigeria. A breach of peace in Rivers state, considering its strategic value and importance, no doubt, could affect other states of the federation,” Maduabum stated.
He said it was a sign of good leadership and a high sense of duty that Governor Bala Mohammed also summoned and held an emergency meeting of the forum immediately after the Rivers state matter came up.
“Those castigating the chairman and other members of the PDP governors’ forum seem to have forgotten that the unity, peace and tranquillity of the country transcend politics and political leanings,” Maduabum said.
The statement added that Mohammed was not about handing over the PDP, which it described as a leading and formidable opposition party, to the president, who was elected on the platform of another party.
