In a Monday broadcast, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara staunchly defended the peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in the state.
Governor Fubara assured the public that the resolution brokered by President Tinubu was not a “death sentence” but a crucial step towards ensuring lasting peace. He expressed his commitment to implementing the peace agreement in a manner that would restore political stability without compromising the interests of the people.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee cautioned Governor Fubara against implementing the agreement without the party’s input, emphasizing that the seats of lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be declared vacant.
The political turmoil in Rivers State escalated on December 11, 2023, when 27 members of the State House of Assembly defected from the PDP to the APC. Following President Tinubu’s intervention, Governor Fubara signed an eight-point peace agreement with his predecessor on December 18.
Despite Tinubu’s efforts, the PDP officially joined a legal suit seeking to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant, pledging to vigorously pursue the case.
During his Christmas Day broadcast, Governor Fubara praised President Tinubu for his intervention, asserting that it demonstrated the president’s love for Rivers State. He pledged to ensure the agreement’s implementation while safeguarding the collective interests of the state and its people.
The governor confirmed the release of allowances to lawmakers and the withdrawal of the ‘purported’ impeachment of defected lawmakers. He urged confidence in the peace process, emphasizing the importance of stability and progress without compromising democratic values.
In response, the PDP National Working Committee expressed dissatisfaction with Governor Fubara’s plan to implement Tinubu’s peace deal. They argued that the constitutional issue of vacant seats should be addressed independently of the peace agreement.
Prominent party members, including former National Secretary Timothy Osadolor and former National Chairman Uche Secondus, voiced concerns about potential political ramifications. Secondus urged stakeholders to ensure a genuine, unbiased, and enforceable reconciliation of the crisis in Rivers State.