By Emeka Okafor
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nysom Wike, have vowed not return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform upon which they were elected as lawmakers.
The lawmakers said they will remain in their new party, All Progressives Congress (APC), saying “there’s no going back on our decision (defection)”.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo George, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s flagship programme, Politics Today.
NIGER DELTA TODAY Online reports that Rivers political space had been in crisis following attempt by lawmakers to impeach Governor Sim Fubara, who is considered to be a political son to former Governor Wike.
The political crisis led to the defection of 27 lawmakers elected on the platform of the PDP to the opposition APC.
President Bola Tinubu intervened and brokered peace between Governor Fubara, Wike and lawmakers during a peace meeting in Abuja.
However, reacting to the political development in the state, Hon. George said those who defected would remain in APC.
According to him, “My brother, we have crossed that rubicon. We have moved to the APC, and I told you the other day that other than the division issue in our party (PDP). We voted for Mr. President. And I told you that if we found Mr. President worthy of our votes, then I think we should find him worthy of our support.
“We have moved over to join his renewed Hope Agenda to ensure that the expectations of Nigerians are fulfilled. So, we’ve moved to the APC where we will work with Mr. President. We have crossed that rubicon and there’s no going back for us.”
The lawmaker also debunked insinuations that Gov Fubara was forced into signing the resolution, noting that President Tinubu followed the constitution while brokering peace between aggrieved parties.
“All parties were party to all the items on the resolution. And then, if someone says what the President did is unconstitutional, even our constitution, recognises alternate dispute resolution mechanisms. No father sleeps when the roof of his house is on fire.
“Rivers state is very strategic to the economy and politics of Nigeria. So, the President did not force himself on us. Many people ran to him and then he intervened and then advised. He didn’t give a directive. All the parties were part of the making of those resolutions”, Hon. George added.
