There is rumpus in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the setting up of caretaker committees in some states and local governments by its national leadership.
The setting of the new leadership structures in the affected states followed last week’s dissolution of their executive committees.
The affected states and local governments, according to “a special announcement” by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, include Rivers, Delta, Imo, Gombe, Bayelsa, Enugu,Bauchi, Ondo, Plateau, Benue, Akwa Ibom and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
But, rejecting the caretaker committee list for Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara described it as fake, saying that it will not stand.
The State Executive Committee of the party also criticised the list, stressing that it will continue to exercise its duties.
The caretaker committee list is dominated by loyalists of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister o Chief Nyesom Wike, to the consternation of the Fubara camp.
There is no love lost between the governor and his predecessor over partisan matters in the crisis-ridden state chapter.
Fubara spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when he kicked off the construction of Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre project.
He dismissed the list as the handiwork of cheap publicity seekers and agents of crisis, who should know that their imagination would not stand.
The governor explained that the national leadership of the party had met recently and agreed that states where the tenure of PDP executives had expired should continue to maintain the officers as caretakers for the next three months.
Fubara said the decision, which is awaiting the ratification of the National Executive Council (NEC), did not suggest that new names should be added to the already existing number of officers or that any subsisting officer should be removed and replaced with a new one.
He said: “I know that a lot of you saw something flying in the social media, dailies. Let me brief you. We had a meeting, and we agreed that, not just in Rivers State, but in all the states affected, that the executive councils of PDP should be extended for three months.
“This extension is not meant to bring in new names. The extension also did not say that you are working without the authority of the governor. So, for those lists that you saw and those ones altered, I can assure you that they are not going to stand.”
Fubara added: “For record purposes, so that you will understand, we also agreed that there is going to be a NEC meeting on the 18th of this month (April) that should ratify that decision.
“So, what you are seeing is the handiwork of desperate people who like media publicity. In fact, empty drums make loudest noise. So, don’t bother about anything. Nothing is happening.”
The governor said fear had befallen his detractors following the warning he issued that he would surprise those, who dared him, vowing to continue to make them feel restless.
Fubara said Rivers remained an important stake to protect, insisting that his administration chose the path of peace to engender progress.
He said: “You can see how restless they have been since I made just one statement, yesterday. We will continue to make them restless.
“They won’t know where we are coming from. We will also continue to hit them hard the way we hit them, yesterday. So, those of you who were worried when you saw those lists that were flying, go and rest, nothing is happening.”
Rivers PDP exco intact, says spokesman
Rivers State PDP Publicity Secretary Sydney Gbara, who echoed Fubara’s position, said the state exco is intact.
Gbara said in a statement that the list should be ignored.
The statement reads: “Let me inform our teeming members, loyalists and supporters that the list flying on the social media space is fake and should be ignored.
“For purposes of clarity, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, following the expiration of the tenure of some states, local government and ward executives had directed after a meeting of the National Working Committee, the BOT and the Governors’ Forum that the old exco members whose tenure had expired, should transform into caretaker committees without anybody being added or removed, not even those who died or resigned from the Exco should be replaced.
“On this strength, I want to state that the purported list of caretaker committees seen on social media, is concocted by enemies of the state whose stock in trade is to constantly exploit every means to mislead gullible people, causing unnecessary distractions in the State.
“The list circulating around is fake in its entirety and not in conformity with the position of the leadership of the party, hence, it should be ignored.
“The fake list in question is the handiwork of desperate empty drums, making loud noise just to infuriate our supporters and cause unnecessary anxiety in the political space. The concocted list is from enemies of the State who used looted state funds to procure it.
“We assure you, that all members of the party exco who transformed into the caretaker committees remained intact with no one added or removed as contained in the memo released by the National Secretariat of our party.
“We also encourage our teeming supporters to remain calm and continue supporting His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of River State and the leader of the party in the state”.
‘We will promote Rivers economic growth’
On the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre project, Fubara said he was delighted to make another significant impact on strategic governance in the state.
He said the project underscored his genuine interest in the wellbeing of Rivers people and the desire to promote growth.
Fubara explained that when he assumed office, the initial partners of the project were invited, and after extensive discussion and the reasons they gave for the delay, it was decided to relieve them of the job.
He clarified that the former project partners had been paid off before GOSH Project Limited was engaged, adding that they had no reason not to deliver on schedule.
Fubara said: “We are not just coming here to kick-off the project, we want to see it completed in reality. That is what we stand for. Not coming to flag-off, and tomorrow, it doesn’t work, and it is stalled.
“We are not part of that. We are not into show business. We are not here to dance. We are here to work, and you will see it.
“We are a government that believes in the well-being and growth of our state genuinely. Not because we own any business around here, not because we have shops that we intend renting here, but we seek the growth of Rivers State.”
Fubara advised the project partners to ensure that every commitment was made for the successful delivery of the project on schedule.
He said: “We have done everything that we need to do. We have settled the initial partners who defaulted. So, you don’t have any issue going on with this project. It is a mark of our level of commitment to our dear people. The community will need your support.
“At the time that this centre will be properly put in place, it will change the economic status of this environment. People will be employed, businesses will strive, and for those of you that are landlords, you will have more tenants and you will also increase your house rents.”
In his address, the Acting Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dr. Tonte Davies, said the groundbreaking signaled commencement of construction of the project to mark a significant milestone in furthering the interest and welfare of Rivers people.
He said the project, when completed, would end the era of indiscriminate conduct of auto mechanics’ activities in parts of the state.
He said: “Today’s event is very unique in the sense that it reaffirms the interest of your Government in the welfare of its citizens.
“For us in Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, the 20,000 housing units development, and now, this International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre is a significant historic moment”.
The Chief Executive Officer of GOSH Projects Limited, Mr Okoh Jeff, said there are 10,000 lock-up shops, 25 banking facilities, 25 brand plaza, 50 industrial warehouses, 10,000-capacity car parks, and mega filling stations.
He said: “There are also ultramodern shopping complex, ultramodern mechanic complex, hotel facilities, export and import trading facilities, while the project will be completed in 36 months”.
