Rivers Gov, Fubara Absent From PDP Stakeholders Abuja Meeting, Party Faults Ministerial List

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was reported absent from the stakeholders meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) held in Abuja on Saturday.

Naija News reports that the PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, and other party leaders met in Abuja yesterday to deliberate about matters arising.

However, again, Fubara was absent at the meeting as some party sources say he still plays the loyal card to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Recall that Wike warned Fubara to be mindful of the party’s Abuja meetings so he wouldn’t fund party activities as he did.

Fubara didn’t give any reasons for his absence at the meeting.

But a party source told The Punch that “The Rivers Governor didn’t give a reason for his absence but his political mentor and the former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, has not mended fences with the PDP and is unlikely to do so. This perhaps explained why he was away. He (Fubara) was said to have been advised by Wike not to spend money on the party like he (Wike) did while he was in power.”

The communique issued at the end of the meeting, which was held at the Bauchi Governor’s lodge, Abuja, stated that “The meeting emphasized the need for party discipline and reiterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes

“The meeting committed to repositioning and stabilizing the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process is in progress and yielding results.

“The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and would be rewarded.

“All the Governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this.

“The Governors will work in partnership with the party at the state and national level to ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability.

“The meeting congratulated the party for empanelling the campaign councils for the off-session elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States and urged the campaign councils to ensure victory for the party in the three States.”

The PDP also faulted President Bola Tinubu over the number of his ministerial nominees.

“The meeting counselled the Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of Governance. 48 Ministers and several Special Advisers and Assistants should be reduced to ensure the health of our economy.

“The meeting advised the President, Commander in Chief, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country. Rather, all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed,” the communique further read.

Present at the meeting were Atiku Abubakar, Ifeanyi Okowa, Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

Others included Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja, National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the party, Dan Orbih, among others.