The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, has said the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, directly discouraged party leaders and supporters from fighting further during the political crisis in his state.
Naijaonpoint reports that Ememobong made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme.
Speaking on the governor’s conduct throughout the situation, Ememobong said Fubara consistently urged supporters not to escalate tensions, stressing that party leaders, particularly PDP governors, were careful not to take actions that might undermine Fubara’s personal strategy.
According to him, political allies acted based on Fubara’s signals, prioritising his long-term stability over immediate confrontation.
Ememobong added that when Governor Fubara was ready to fight, everyone backed him, citing the Rivers State local government election.
He said, “In that whole period, he discouraged people from fighting further.
“A lot of the commentators who were coming out, including those attending the fair, kept asking what the position was. But he would always say he would sort the matter out.
“You cannot cry more than the bereaved at the funeral so that it won’t become suspicious.
“The PDP governors took their positions, they aired their positions, they took steps but the steps you’re taking are in furtherance of the person’s interest. You can’t file a case and then the person will tell you, ‘I didn’t ask you to; you’re complicating my issues for me.’
“When he was ready to fight, everyone fought alongside him.
“Look at the local government election; he had all the support from everywhere. Even when the state authorities were attempting to push him back, you saw how Nigerians supported him and fought back.
“In a circumstance where you are not fighting from the front and you’re asking people to backtrack, then people think fighting further will hurt your interest. And since they love you, they also heed to you.”