Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, has insisted that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara must be the leader of the PDP in the state.
Mohammed made the remark while speaking to journalists after a meeting with a delegation of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
According to him, the decision is based on the established practice of the PDP, where the governor is the leader of the party in their state.
“We had a very fruitful meeting between myself and the delegation of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, ably led by the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, and five others,” Mohammed disclosed.
The governor explained that the meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between the PDP Governors Forum and the NWC, and to resolve lingering issues.
He noted that the PDP Governors Forum and the NWC agreed on the need for Fubara to lead the party in Rivers State.
He said, “Along that line, we discussed extensively the need for collaboration between the PDP Governors Forum and the NWC so that some of the issues can be resolved, including the litigations that cannot be resolved, will be resolved on the table,” he added.
“It is along this line that we collectively agreed for the rule of law, and the delegation gave their firm commitment and support for the position of the PDP Governors Forum in Rivers State.”
“In Rivers State, where we don’t have the established practice in which any governor from the party is the leader of the party and will therefore have the party structure for sustainability.”
He added, “On behalf of the Governors Forum, we are very grateful to the NWC, ably led by the National Legal Adviser. We also discussed some legal issues that are lingering, and we used the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Governors Forum to ask the delegation to convey our appreciation to the Acting National Chairman of the PDP.”
“We insist that, please, those committees they have set up on reconciliation and disciplinary issues should work in a manner that will do it through consensus and agreement so that we will not at least create anything that can bring imbroglio,” the governor added.
He also stated, “We are behind the North-Central Zone of the party to be allowed to produce the National Chairman of the party. Precedents have been set in the past when Ahmed Mu’azu succeeded Bamanga Tukur and Ali Modu Sheriff came after him.”
“In fairness, the North Central should be allowed to complete its tenure. That is justice, that is fairness, and that is what the PDP stands for,” he stressed.
“Going forward, I assured them that the PDP Governors Forum will be meeting with them from time to time to discuss issues of unity and development of the party. We also want to interface with structures like the Former Governors Forum, Former Ministers Forum, and others.
“By the time the PDP emerges from the present situation, we will be ready, Insha Allah, to take over the leadership of the country in 2027. We will then build on the massive development of 16 years obstructed by the wasteful years of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”
