Rivers Crisis: Presidency Backs Fubara, Says Allow Him Carry Out His Duties, Confirms Him State APC Leader

By Adesina Soyooye

“Nobody should stop Governor Fubara from Governing the State” – Presidency

Nigeria’s Presidency has affirmed that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is the Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State. In affirming Fubara as the Leader of the Party, the Presidency, also, said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike cannot speak for the APC because he is not a member of the Party. At best, the Presidency said, Wike is the Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, having been a former Governor of the State.

These clarifications were made the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Communications, Daniel Bwala, a Lawyer, during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, ‘Hard Copy’.

According to Bwala, the APC’s structure in the State is clear. And he emphasized that Fubara must be allowed to carry out his duties without any interference.

Bwala said that President Tinubu very much believes in the rule of law and democratic best practices, and so, the APC respects internal party procedures.

His words: “I agree with the point highlighted by the National Chairman that in Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC. Wike is not a member of the APC, so he cannot speak for the party.

“He may be regarded as a leader within the PDP in Rivers State, having been a former governor, but the APC leader in the state is Governor Fubara.

“What the National Chairman said is what the party stands by because he respects party procedures. The President believes in the rule of law and due process, and the party will always respect that.”

On the ongoing political  impeachment proceedings against the Governor, Bwala spoke like the Lawyer he is. He said that must be handled within the framework of the law, but re-emphasised: “When you ask who is the leader of the party, the answer is the governor.

“There are court orders stopping the impeachment, and the party is clear: nobody should stop Governor Fubara from Governing Rivers State.”

Wike had, when Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC, and flaunted his registration number, 001, mocked the Governor and told him: “You are not the leader of the APC in Rivers State. Who made you the leader?