A youth activist and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State, Dr Tom Fredfish has expressed reservations over the perceived silence by some leaders and stakeholders of the party in the ongoing feud between the governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, Fredfish noted that the recent ruling of the Appeal Court setting aside the decision of the Rivers State High Court where it barred 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers has escalated the crisis between the duo.

He wondered why the stakeholders of PDP, such as the chairman of the Board of Trustees, BOT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Party leader and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, and the National Chairman, Iliya Umar Damagum remained silent amid the crises, querying if they were afraid to take a stand against Wike.

He urged them to speak out and take a firm position in support of their own, the governor noting that their silence and inactions even contravene the party’s principles and ideals.

The statement in parts, “Democratic loving Nigerians should no longer keep silent over the crises in Rivers State. The national leadership of the PDP must stand up firmly and take a position in support of their own.

“The high point of these crises is orchestrated by attempts made by Mr. Wike to continuously hold on to power and the political structure of Rivers State even after leaving office as governor. This has constrained many Nigerians to be concerned as to why the PDP and other stakeholders have not come out to take a firm stand in support of the governor. Are they afraid to speak the truth? Are they scared of Nyesom Wike? Why are they shying from calling out and condemning Wike’s autocratic cravings?

“I am particularly worried that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in 2023, and also leader, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and PDP’s National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum has continued to maintain inarticulable silence in a matter that directly concerns them and has serious implications for the future of the PDP.

“It is shameful, pathetic, and a betrayal of trust for these leaders who pride themselves as democrats to remain neutral in the face of challenges in Rivers State, where the governor is one of their own. The actions of PDP leaders contravene the party’s principles and ideals.

“The motto of our party, the PDP is Justice, Unity, and progress, as such the leadership of the PDP has desecrated the very ethos on which the party is built. According to PDP’s motto, where is Justice if 25 persons who publicly defected from the PDP, announcing their defection on the floor of the House, would then make a turnaround to claim that they still belong to the PDP, which they violated? Where is Unity in the PDP, if the leaders cannot stand firm to say, “Enough is enough” to Wike and his agents and make every necessary move to unify the party? Where is progress, if the PDP cannot put its house in order and ensure that it stands firm as the major opposition party in the country?

“To remain silent in the face of intimidating forces who have sworn to frustrate Governor Sim Fubara, a governor under the PDP, is treachery.

“What is more amazing is the fact that every other day, former vice president Atiku Abubakar is in the news criticizing the APC-led government but has failed to condemn the undemocratic acts in Rivers State. He ought to mobilize party leaders to pay a solidarity visit to Governor Fubara to demonstrate that the PDP is solidly behind the governor. Inability to do so, is shameful, to say the least.

“I am particularly impressed that despite the grandstanding of these men who are putting finishing touches to bury the PDP, Governor Fubara has continued to adorn the attitude of a true, patriotic, and worthy democrat and I commend him for standing firm against the sardonic voices of anti-democratic elements and treasury looters. I am profoundly happy that Governor Fubara is steadfast, unmoving, and unyieldingly solid as the “Rock of Ages”, thus, no intimidation or threats from anarchists can stop him from his avowed commitment to give the people of Rivers State quality leadership.

“Having given PDP the pivot support to win elections all these years, Rivers State deserves better and it’s time for the party to be committed to working with Governor Fubara to get rid of the purveyors of anarchy and treasury looters. I am therefore calling on the PDP chairman, Ambassador Damagum, and Atiku to speak out and act like true party men or bury their heads in shame.”