The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the call by the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s resignation or impeachment.
The APC faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had called for the governor’s resignation or impeachment, citing multiple alleged offences.
The opposition party, led by Chief Tony Okocha, also spurned the governor’s offer to a reconciliation conference with the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, calling it a “Greek gift.”
Fubara, in a letter written by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, on Sunday, requested the lawmakers to meet on Monday following the Supreme Court’s verdict that confirmed the 27 legislators as legitimate Assembly members.
In response to the invitation on Sunday, one of the members, Isaiah Opuende of Akuru-Toru Constituency 2, chastised Fubara for utilising social media platforms.
In an address to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, Okocha called for Fubara’s resignation, accusing the governor of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu and failing to implement the eight-point settlement previously agreed upon to resolve the conflict.
He wondered if the governor had bent over backwards after some extended grandstanding.
The APC chairman characterised Fubara as “clueless” and stressed that the two feasible options for him were to retire honourably or face impeachment proceedings.
“The options before Siminalayi Joseph Fubara are two: he should honourably resign or be impeached because he has run the state aground and disrespected Mr. President.
“The invitation to the lawmakers is a Greek gift. The Supreme Court judgement is final. There is nothing anybody can do about it.
“The only option available to the governor now is for him to resign or be impeached. And he should be honourable about it,” he said.
He stated, “The APC remains the major opposition party in Rivers State. We are the voice of the voiceless. When we said Siminalayi Fubara was clueless, we were not joking. The evidence is clear.
“The governor behaves like a saint, but he is a dangerous snake. His meeting agenda with the lawmakers is puerile. Is he inviting them to discuss the Supreme Court judgement?
“And why was the invitation letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, instead of the governor himself? It’s an aberration. As far as I’m concerned, it is a Greek gift.”
Chief Okocha stated that the party would not stand by and watch the governor run the state aground with his leadership style.
He cautioned that the governor’s continuing term in office could lead to political instability in the state, comparing the situation to a “keg of gunpowder” waiting to burst.
Reacting to the call for the resignation or impeachment of the governor of the oil-rich state, the PDP described Okocha’s stance as “hallucination.”
Speaking in an interview, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused the APC faction of attempting to create unnecessary political tension.
He urged the opposition party in the state to focus on addressing national challenges, rather than fuelling political crises in the state.
Ologunagba charged Okocha to deal with the issues concerning his chairmanship of the APC in Rivers and leave Fubara out of his troubles.
He said, “The man you are talking about has a lot of issues to deal with, one of which is his claim to the chairmanship of the APC in Rivers State.
“All we can say is that the man is hallucinating. He is in a dream world, and we can’t stop him from dreaming.
“However, he must be told that impeachment is a constitutional process and not something you just sleep and dream about.
“Instead of Governor Fubara, Okocha should help his party think of how to deal with the hardship they have brought on Nigerians.
“Nigerians are being made to pay exorbitant tariffs in energy and telecoms, and life has never been this hellish. This is what should bother him and his party, the APC.”
Ologunagba further stated that Fubara remained popular among the people of Rivers State.
“He has no locus standi to tell Governor Fubara to resign because the Rivers people are very happy with him.
“They are proud of the work he is doing. In a very short period, he has impacted the people of Rivers State in a manner that deserves our collective applause.
“Governor Fubara was elected to lead his people, and he is doing that excellently,” he added.
Similarly, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said no rational person would demand Fubara’s impeachment.
He stated that the governor had firmly established himself in the state’s politics and had the backing of the people.
“Those calling for the impeachment of Governor Fubara don’t understand the constitution. Impeaching a performing governor like the Rivers State governor is not a tea party.
“The stakeholders are with him, and they know it is not a tea party to impeach him; he enjoys the support of the Rivers people.
“Governor Fubara has entrenched himself in the politics of Rivers State. He cannot be impeached and should not be impeached.
“Those who have said so, I believe they should retrace their steps. No sane person will move to impeach Fubara,” he added.
