A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Sani, has explained why Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, did not attend the party’s recent national convention.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, Sani said Governor Fubara remains a member of the PDP despite the political challenges surrounding him, adding that the party still recognizes him until he publicly declares otherwise.
He stated that Fubara’s photo was included in the convention programme because he has not announced his exit from the party, unlike the Governor of Taraba State, who he said had openly declared his intention to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Sani also dismissed claims that the party leadership ought to have contacted Fubara directly, saying attendance at the convention was open and voluntary to all members.
Sani said: “You know that all the landmines placed before him (Fubara) to make him not to be interested in participating in politics is there. He’s neither here nor there. He has not come out publicly to say he’s no longer a member of PDP, and that is why, in our program of activities at the convention, his picture was there, because he’s still a member of the PDP, unless he says otherwise.
“Now you just told me that the governor of Taraba has just mentioned that he’s completing his medical going on transfer to APC. That makes him, you know, an outgoing member of the PDP. He has already made a declaration. Fubara hasn’t made any declaration, and as as far as we are concerned, he’s still a member of the PDP, and there’s nothing we can say other than that.
“I don’t think there was that need for us speaking to him ahead of the convention because it is an invitation that is extended to every member of the party, you are invited to come or at liberty not to come. So we don’t have to call him on phone or do anything other than to invite him.”