Fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the list of Caretaker Committee members it recently published to run the affairs of some States and local government areas.
It was gathered that the list for Rivers State was particularly generating controversies and deepening the already existing political crisis between the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike and the state Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara.
Fubara on Thursday fumed over the list describing it as fake and insisting that it fell short of the agreement the PDP governors had with the party’s NWC.
It was gathered that shortly after Fubara ventilated his grievances over the list, he immediately stormed the Wadata Plaza, the PDP National Headquarters, on Thursday evening to consult with members of the NWC.
Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, confirmed the meeting between Fubara and some members of the NWC.
The Governor overnor was quoted as saying after the meeting that the NWC dismissed the list as fake and restated the resolutions of a meeting it held between them and the governors in March.
He said the main resolution of the March meeting was that after the expiration of the executive committees in various states, their members should transform into caretaker committees for the next three months without changing their compositions.
Fubara insisted that Rivers would abide by the decision that the executive officers whose tenures had expired in March should remain in their various capacities for the three months extension period approved by the NWC elapses to enable the conduct of fresh congresses.
He recalled that a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary, Umar M. Bature, dated Wednesday, March 27, 2024, addressed to the Chairman, Rivers State Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aaron Chukwuemeka, contained such resolution.
He said the letter titled, “Approval of Wards, Local Government Area and State Caretaker Committee Members for Rivers State”, clearly resolved the issue of the authentic members of the caretaker committees at the affected levels.
The letter, was copied the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum; Deputy National Chairman, South, His Excellency, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and National Legal Adviser, Ajibade Kamaldeen Adeyemi, SAN.
He quoted the letter as saying: “Following the expiration of the elected Ward, LGA, and State Executive Members in Rivers State, the National Working Committee (NWC), pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of our Party, has, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) approved the appointment of the expired Excos as Caretaker Committee Members.
“For the avoidance of doubt, attached to this letter is the authentic list of the Caretaker Committee Members in Rivers State. These Caretaker Committees shall run the affairs of our Party at their appropriate levels for a period of three (3) months effective from the dates of their expiration, i.e. March 14, 18, 21, 2024 for Wards, LGA, and State, respectively.
“Please note that the NWC equally approved that anywhere vacancies have occurred due to death, removal, resignation, or defection, such vacancies shall not be filled.
“While thanking you for your continuous commitment, please accept the assurances of the NWC’s highest regards”.
Fubara emphasised that the party stood on the agreement reached on the issue as contained in the letter by the NWC to the State Chairman of PDP dated March 27, adding that no amount of intimidation, clandestine moves, wasteful lobbying and needless expenditure of public funds would change the position already taken.
The Governor said that the list purported to be members of the Caretaker Committees of the party in the state was only the imagination of its purveyors, and advised those, whose names were removed in the list and gullible members of the public to ignore it in its entirety.
He said that the party did not at any time remove or replace the names of officers, whose tenures had been officially extended for three months, pending possible National Executive Committee ratification on April 18.
Fubara insisted that what was published on Thursday was not only fake, concocted and manipulated to suit the desperate ambitions of enemies of the state and its people, but also a deliberate attempt to provoke members and cause discord in the party.
He observed that the list was the handiwork of politicians, who were spending public funds to cause unnecessary tension, anxiety and friction in the polity, and also distract the government from the real task of governance.
The Governor urged the elected officers of the party at ward, local government, and state levels whose names were removed and replaced with fictitious names to remain calm, and go about their legitimate duties as officers of the party.
He also warned those fomenting trouble and fanning the embers of confusion and disunity to retrace their steps, and embrace peace or face severe consequences.
The governor also warned those, whose names were forced into the “fake and fabricated” list not to be deceived by anybody with unmerited appointment, and avoid parading themselves or showing their presence at any party offices pretending to be officials, as anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law for forgery and impersonation.
