The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has urged reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State not to dump the party, but to do his best to make the state great again.
President Bola Tinubu proclaimed an emergency rule in Rivers on March 18, following a lingering political crisis in the state.
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The crisis, caused by a power tussle between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, created political tension and paralysed governance in the oil-rich state.
Mr Tinubu, on the proclamation of the emergency rule, suspended Mr Fubara and the state’s lawmakers for six months and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as sole administrator.
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The president announced on Wednesday that the emergency rule would end and directed all elected officials to resume their offices on Thursday.
Reacting, the PDP Vice-Chairperson (Lagos Central), Hakeem Olalemi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged Mr Fubara not to entertain fear but to be “very courageous” in governing the state.
“The governor should not muster any fear; the deed has been done. He should continue to be strong and faithful in doing what is expected of him as the state governor.
“Fubara must make Rivers great again.
“The governor should nurture the party that brought him to power into a bigger platform; he should not jettison that party. He should ensure the party becomes stronger in the state and region,” Mr Olalemi said.
Mr Olalemi also urged all Rivers political gladiators to consider the people and allow peace and harmony to reign.
“There is no need for us to clap, dance, jump, or celebrate that Governor Fubara has been reinstated. He has gotten back the mandate freely given to him at the ballot, but now weakened.
“Our advice to the legislative and executive arms is to work together and in harmony for the betterment of the good people of Rivers.
“These are the people who voted for them, and their interests should supersede all politics and politicking,” the PDP chairperson added.
He said that the electorate deserves to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
The chairperson advised all lawmakers, especially those who had initially pledged allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the crisis, to return to the PDP.
NAN reports that Mr Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers House of Assembly on Thursday returned to office after the lifting of the emergency rule.
APC woos Fubara
Meanwhile, a faction of the APC in Rivers on Tuesday called on Governor Fubara to join the APC as he returns to office.
The factional APC spokesperson in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, made the call while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Mr Nwauju said the APC members would gladly receive Mr Fubara into the party.
READ ALSO: Tinubu lifts Rivers State of Emergency, asks Fubara, lawmakers to resume
He said if he were Mr Fubara he would immediately announce his defection to the APC on his return on Thursday.
When asked if Mr Fubara would lead the APC in Rivers if he defected, Mr Nwauju responded that it would be “automatic”.
“By the convention of our party, if he joins the All Progressives Congress, he becomes the leader of the party,” he added.
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