Fubara Snubs PDP Gov’s Meeting, Absent In Ibadan

By Adesina Soyooye

Questions are being asked as to why suspended Governor of Rivers  State, Siminalayi Fubara, is absent at the meeting of Governors elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The meeting, being hosted in Ibadan, Oyo State, by Governor Seyi Makinde, is the first major one since the suspension of Fubara for an initial period of six months from office, and the declaration of  state of emergency in the State.

One of the main reasons for the meeting is the proclamation of a State of Emergency, the suspension from office of democratically elected officials, including the Governor and his Deputy, and the appointment of a Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to oversee the affairs of the State.

The PDP Governors had, last week, approached the Supreme Court, to challenge the suspension of democratically elected officials, including the Governor and Deputy from office.

Fubara was expected to join them at the meeting since his case is on the front burner.

But at the time of filing this report, he had not joined his colleagues at the ongoing meeting. Absent too is Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke who was in Ibadan on Sunday with his colleagues, but left for his State to attend to pressing issues as he has just returned from a trip outside the country. He was expected to join them but has not, also, done so at the time of filing this report.

The meeting is being presided over by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on March 18, citing, among other things, insecurity and the breakdown of governance. But that declaration has been greeted by widespread condemnation.