A former member of the House of Representatives, Bernard Mikko, has said Governor Siminalayi Fubara left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure stronger political protection.
Speaking on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Mikko explained that Nigerian politics often forces leaders to align with parties that can protect them and help them govern effectively.
He described Fubara’s move as a predictable step for self-preservation and for the protection of Rivers State. According to him, the PDP has collapsed in Rivers State and across the South, leaving its members exposed.
“The party became very weak immediately after President Jonathan left office. During the 2014 convention, the stakeholders and governors even walked out for the first time and formed the MPDP, which you are aware of.
“Since then, with everything they were doing… I was serving as Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring and Evaluation, so I saw what was happening. Party members acted with brazen impunity. The party became like a franchise for trading and all sorts of things,” he said.
Recall that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara had announced his defection from PDP to APC at a stakeholders meeting held at the government house in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Fubara joined Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; and his Bayelsa counterpart, Duoye Siri, all of whom defected from the opposition PDP.
Speaking at the meeting, the governor said, “We can’t support President (Tinubu) if we don’t fully identify with him, not just the backyard support.
“So we have taken that decision here today that everyone who has followed and suffered with me, the decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC.”
His defection came after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
Speaking , Mikko stressed that Fubara did not defect for personal ambition but to ensure stability in Rivers State.
“I think he’s right. Rivers State is happy that Fubara has been found; he has negotiated his way into a stronger platform that can give him the kind of protection which Rivers State needs. It’s not about him,” he said.
He said the governor acted after studying security reports and other intelligence. According to him, people outside the government do not see the risks Fubara was facing or the issues happening behind the scenes.
Reacting to claims that the PDP once supported Fubara during political crises, Mikko said the party is too weak to protect anyone.
“But the PDP is very weak, and they should blame themselves. You saw how they didn’t take disciplinary measures against those who were doing anti-party, and they were dining with them. So what do you expect him to do?”
He also dismissed fears that the APC is building a one-party system ahead of 2027, saying the opposition’s weakness is due to its own failures.
“I think they should; after this election, they go and recalibrate themselves and see what has gone wrong. And they give out research assignments to students to see why we came to this position we are in today. So I don’t blame the APC,” he said.
Furthermore, reacting to claims that Fubara’s move is a victory for former governor Nyesom Wike, Mikko said Wike has not formally joined the APC.
“Wike has not declared for the APC. Even if he said he is working for the APC, it’s a triumph for the people of Rivers state because the party, the state, as of now, is being led by Siminalayi Fubra. So where he goes, rivers will follow him because he has the organic support.
“Wike is doing well in Abuja as FCT minister. This is the first time we are having a minister, FCT, from the south, for a very long time. So we are happy with what he is doing. But you cannot say that this is for Wike,” he said.