At a crucial meeting held at the Government House in Enugu, key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed unwavering support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amidst the ongoing political crisis in the state.
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The gathering included PDP Governors, the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and other party organs, who collectively pledged to ensure the resolution of the conflict and prevent any attempts to destabilize Fubara’s administration.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting highlighted the party’s commitment to backing Governor Fubara.
Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, emphasized the need for unity and wider consultations with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful resolution.
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The communique warned against any actions that could distract the governor from delivering good governance to the people of Rivers State.
The forum also addressed several national issues, including the upcoming party congresses, the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, ongoing national minimum wage negotiations, and the current state of the economy.
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The PDP leaders criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government for its handling of the economy, citing growing inflation, worsening corruption, and a declining standard of living.
Governor Mohammed highlighted the PDP’s past achievements, contrasting them with the current economic challenges.
He called for more pragmatic policies from the Federal Government to rescue the economy and provide relief to Nigerians.
The forum also commended PDP-controlled states for their innovative governance approaches and timely delivery of developmental projects.
On the issue of national minimum wage negotiations, the forum supported labor’s demand for a substantial salary raise, emphasizing the need for negotiations to consider the ability of various government tiers to pay.
The forum urged restraint in actions and utterances to avoid a complete breakdown of law and order.
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Regarding the upcoming party congresses, the forum stressed the importance of internal democracy, transparency, and fairness.
It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a level playing field in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and called on President Bola Tinubu to refrain from any statements suggestive of political interference.
The forum also expressed its commitment to supporting local government autonomy as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and emphasized the need for a balanced implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy to avoid creating a trust deficit between the federal and sub-national governments.
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The meeting was attended by several PDP governors, including Governor Peter Mbah (host), Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Governor Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Governor Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Governor Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
