A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Tom Fred Fish has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara to wade into the crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the party saying their continued silence was not helping matters.
The crisis follows the disagreement between t Governor Sim Fubara and his godfather, Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State.
TomFish said the continued silence of the party stalwarts including the national chairman of the PDP was not in the best interest of democracy-loving Nigerians.
In a statement made available to Businessday, he said they should not shy away from brokering peace and stepping in to apportion blame accordingly.
“I am particularly worried that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PDP, Adolphus Wabara, the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in 2023, and also leader, Atiku Abubakar and PDP’s National Chairman, Umar Damagun have continued to maintain silent in a matter that directly concerns them and has serious implications for the future of the PDP, ” he said.
According to him, It is unfair for them to remain neutral in the face of challenges in Rivers State, where the governor is one of their own. The actions of PDP leaders contravene the party’s principles and ideals.
Read also: Rivers crisis: Pro-Fubara lawmakers hold sitting, move to challenge appeal court judgement
“The motto of our party, the PDP is Justice, Unity, and progress, as such the leadership of the PDP should promote the very ethos on which the party is built.
“According to PDP’s motto, where is Justice if 25 persons who publicly defected from the PDP, announcing their defection on the floor of the House, would then make a turnaround to claim that they still belong to the PDP, which they violated?
” Where is Unity in the PDP, if the leaders cannot stand firm to say, “Enough is enough” to Wike and his agents and make every necessary move to unify the party? Where is progress, if the PDP cannot put its house in order and ensure that it stands firm as the major opposition party in the country?
“To remain silent in the face of intimidating forces who have sworn to frustrate Governor Sim Fubara, a governor under the PDP, is treachery.
“What is more amazing is the fact that every other day, former vice president Atiku Abubakar is in the news criticizing the APC-led government but has failed to condemn the undemocratic acts in Rivers State.
“He ought to mobilize party leaders to pay a solidarity visit to Governor Fubara to demonstrate that the PDP is solidly behind the governor. Inability to do so, is shameful, to say the least.
“I am particularly impressed that Governor Fubara has continued to adorn the attitude of a true, patriotic, and worthy democrat and I commend him for standing firm against the voices of anti-democratic elements and treasury looters.
“I am profoundly happy that Governor Fubara is steadfast, unmoving, and unyieldingly solid as the “Rock of Ages”, thus, no intimidation or threats from anarchists can stop him from his avowed commitment to give the people of Rivers State quality leadership.
“Having given PDP the pivot support to win elections all these years, Rivers State deserves better and it’s time for the party to be committed to working with Governor Fubara
” I am, therefore, calling on the PDP chairman, Damagum and Atiku to speak out and act like true party men or bury their heads in shame.
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