Bauchi state governor and the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed while commenting on the disorderliness in Rivers state acknowledged that Siminalaye Fubara’s action has deepened democracy. Recall the governor of Rivers State Sim Fubara has sworn in the newly elected council chairmen at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Sunday against the dictate of godfatherism in the state. In line with Fubara’s action in foiling the ploy and plan of the ruling party in Nigeria, to steal electoral materials in the state, Senator Mohammed declared that his counterpart had proven himself a true democrat against all odds by backing his words up with action. The Bauchi State governor said this in a press release on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi. The Bauchi governor bemoaned the situation, describing it as the problem that they have found themselves both as a party and governors, confirming that Fubara, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is still a member of the PDP even though other parties constituted the body of elected officers at the local government level. According to the Senator: “Of course, he is still with us. He’s still a PDP man, and I have to come, on behalf of the governors to show solidarity with him for his very proactive democratic instincts that he developed, which is a new manifestation in the political arena in Nigeria which he had to intensify, and he has to develop strategy to be able to deliver governance, irrespective of party allegiance or party consideration.’’ Continuing, he added, “He didn’t have a structure of the party in the state for certain reasons, and he had to go out to make sure he allowed other parties to participate within the political space so that there wouldn’t be any vacuum. “And, I think this is very auspicious, that is very creative and I am very proud of him. And I said, yes, we have lost as a party, and that is why we want to be running away from this. “Again, he has established himself as a governor and the pride of all the governors in Nigeria.” He described as unacceptable the plot to undermine the office and person of the Rivers state governor adding that: “A governor is the chief executive, he can do anything. He can spring surprises because the Nigerian state is run by governors at the sub-national level. “Even the Federal Government is a tenant. Nigerians live in the states and local governments, and that is why what he did today is very proactive and creative, irrespective of the fact that he knew his party would lose.’’ “And certainly, because of his deep democratic instincts, he had to allow the other parties to win, and I will just wish that those who have won will see it in their own modesty and willing to give him support because he is not doing it with any strings or asking them to do anything. Let the APP and him have that relationship so that he can govern,” he explained. Reminiscing about a similar experience, he stated, “I had a similar situation in 2019. I governed a state where only nine PDP persons were members of the state assembly and he (Fubara) is still doing that. “So, his political sagacity has come to a level where he has become a specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria.” Speaking on how soon the PDP will resolve its internal crisis and achieve unity, the Bauchi governor revealed that true reconciliation was in view. ‘’And that is the more reason I am here. Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. All the governors are with him, and certainly, we are taking steps to ensure reconciliation. “Reconciliation with somebody who they had started with; the former governor of this state and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory is a must because, certainly, they have come a long way. We didn’t want to throw the baby away with the bad water. “And certainly, the governors are with the governor (Fubara) because this is our own tradition and fraternity; at the same time, out of our political history as a party that has a history of governance. “We are still stretching our arms of reconciliation to his mentor, to his friend and brother, and also our colleague,” he added.
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