&w=64&q=75)
The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed its dissatisfaction with the move by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to implement the peace pact aimed at resolving the conflict between him and Nyesom Wike.
The political feud between Fubara and his predecessor has been a matter of serious concern as both parties heat the political temperature in Rivers State.
The conflict led to the burning and subsequent demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following the defection of 27 members of the assembly from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a bid to quell the crisis, President Tinubu on Monday, December 18, 2023, had a meeting with Fubara, Wike and political stakeholders from Rivers State in Abuja.
At the end of the meeting, the governor and his predecessor agreed to settle their rift after signing a document containing an eight-point resolution.
However, since Fubara attended the meeting and signed the agreement, some PDP members and stakeholders in Rivers State have been urging the governor to ignore the peace pact and focus on governance.
But in a statewide broadcast on Monday, December 25, 2023, Fubara vowed to implement the peace agreement, saying it’s not as bad as his supporters portray it.
In his speech, Fubara said the peace agreement is not a death sentence, adding that the pact was a ploy to ensure lasting peace and stability in Rivers State.
The governor also thanked President Tinubu for his intervention, saying the move demonstrated the President’s love for the people of his state.
ALSO READ: Wike breaks silence on political feud with Fubara
Reacting to the governor’s defence of the agreement, the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor said the issue the governor involved himself in is bigger than him and the President.
In an interview with ThePunch, Osadolor urged Fubara to know his limit, adding that the matter is a constitutional one.
He said, “The question of the seats of the defected lawmakers being vacant is a clear constitutional issue, not at the wishes and discretion of President Tinubu or any other person. It is a clear constitutional matter.
“Also, the PDP constitutionally owns the votes, so I don’t see how Governor Fubara will tell the PDP that because he met with the President in Aso Rock, the PDP should not take charge of its votes. As we speak the PDP is in court, the votes belong to the PDP, not to Fubara or the Villa.
“The one within the governor’s purview is to pay salaries and allowances of the lawmakers to the date their seats become vacant. I am sure the governor knows his limit.”
Another member of the PDP National Executive Council and former National Secretary of the party, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri said Fubara’s move to implement the peace pact won’t be in the interest of the PDP.
He believes the governor will be in trouble whether he implements the agreement or not.
“As a complete gentleman, he went there and signed the agreement, even though without the consent of the party. So implementation will be made by him and not by the party. But certainly, it won’t be in the interest of the party.
“The PDP will not allow itself to be dragged into that trap, but he failed to consult the party. If he implements it, he is in trouble, if he doesn’t, is in trouble. Implementation of the agreement is like jumping into awaiting problems. And if he fails to implement it, he is going to enter the Federal government’s trouble. So, either way, is trouble for him,” he said.
Also, in a statement on Monday, a former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, argued that the peace agreement initiated by the President gave an unconstitutional advantage to the APC.
He, therefore, called on Nigerians to prevail on President Tinubu to act in the interest of Rivers State to ensure a genuine and unbiased reconciliation of the political crisis in the state.