The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ini Ememobong, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara directly influenced how party leaders and supporters navigated the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.
Ememobong made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
Speaking on the governor’s conduct throughout the situation, Ememobong said Fubara consistently urged supporters not to escalate tensions.
“In that whole period, he discouraged people from fighting further,” he said.
“A lot of the commentators who were coming out, including those attending the fair, kept asking what the position was. But he would always say he would sort the matter out.”
Ememobong explained that party leaders, particularly PDP governors, were careful not to take actions that might undermine Governor Fubara’s personal strategy.
“You cannot cry more than the bereaved at the funeral so that it won’t become suspicious,” he noted.
“The PDP governors took their positions, they aired their positions, they took steps but the steps you’re taking are in furtherance of the person’s interest. You can’t file a case and then the person will tell you, ‘I didn’t ask you to; you’re complicating my issues for me.’”
According to him, this caution was driven by the governor’s reluctance at the time to openly confront those challenging his authority.
“When he was ready to fight, everyone fought alongside him,” he added.
“Look at the local government election; he had all the support from everywhere. Even when the state authorities were attempting to push him back, you saw how Nigerians supported him and fought back.”
Ememobong further explained that supporters were hesitant to take aggressive action unless the governor clearly indicated readiness for confrontation.
“In a circumstance where you are not fighting from the front and you’re asking people to backtrack, then people think fighting further will hurt your interest,” he said. “And since they love you, they also heed to you.”
He concluded that political allies acted based on the governor’s signals, prioritising his long-term stability over immediate confrontation.