PDP not one-man enterprise, govs reply Wike’s ally

• Fubara vows not to surrender to blackmailers
• Lauds Tinubu’s ‘robust’ economic reforms

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) on Tuesday asserted that the main opposition party is not a one-man enterprise while vowing to not only uphold the vision of its founding fathers but also improve on it for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.

It made the declaration as it sought to push back on claims by the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, is supporting the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara because he wants to vie for the PDP 2027 presidential election ticket with him.

The claim was made by the former chairman of Ikwerre Local Government in Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike, who had in a televised interview, alleged that Mohammed intends to run for the presidency in 2027 and seeks to appoint Fubara as his vice-presidential candidate, claiming a strategy to combine resources from various states to challenge the current president, Bola Tinubu.

But in a statement signed by the Director General of the PDP GF, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, the Forum categorically rejected these claims, emphasising that the assertions are misleading and aim to distort the unity and purpose of the party.

The Forum expressed concern that Nwanosike’s remarks reflect a misguided perspective that could mislead constituents and disrupt the peace within the party.
The Forum articulated that the PDP operates as a collective body, not a vehicle for individual ambitions.

This is as the Rivers governor, Fubara, vowed not to surrender to blackmailers while committing to consolidating on the gains made in ensuring peace, advancing good governance, delivering more critical projects, and sustaining the increase in the Internally Generation Revenue (IGR) of the state.

On the 64th Independence anniversary, Fubara said despite the sacrifices of the past and present leaders, Nigeria still totters amid diverse challenges, including widespread human insecurity, after 64 years of self-rule.

He pointed to the prevailing economic hardship that has made life more difficult for most Nigerians, and stressed that “despite the economic hardship and social ills bedevilling our nation and stifling its progress, we still have good reasons to celebrate and be grateful to God as a nation and people.”

The governor however, commended President Tinubu, for his bold, dynamic and pragmatic economic reforms targeted at correcting the structural deformities of the past and ushering Nigeria into a new vista of sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

Governor Fubara believed that it is only through the collective efforts of Nigerians that Nigeria can become the greatest black nation and be reckoned as the global leader in human civilisation so desired.

“I urge fellow governors to redouble their efforts to fight the scourge of insecurity and banditry in the North, and pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta region of the country, for the ongoing economic reforms to bear the needed positive results. On our part, we assure the Federal Government and Mr President of unalloyed loyalty and support from the government and good people of Rivers State, and reaffirm our commitment to the unity and progress of Nigeria as one indivisible nation.”