By Ayomide Otitoju
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday defended his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing lack of protection from his former party as a key factor.
Fubara made the announcement at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, stating that his move was also a gesture of gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting his tenure as governor.
“What you all have been waiting for…the signal has finally arrived. We have the full support; we have the positive nod to leave where we are because we didn’t get any protection to go to where we are going,” Fubara said.
He added, “The reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is, without Mr. President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been former governor. Our only ‘thank you’ to Mr. President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation; we cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him—not backyard support.”
Fubara’s defection follows that of Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 17 other lawmakers, who left the PDP for the APC on December 5, citing internal party crises. Observers say the lawmakers’ departure increased pressure on the governor to join the ruling party.
