Recall that Akpabio at a recent function in the Tai Local Government area of the state asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike to look for someone from Ogoni extraction to succeed state governor, Siminialayi Fubara in 2027.
But the PDP in a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Sydney Gbara, said the Senate President has no right to determine which ethnic group in the state will produce the governor.
The party urged the Senate president to be mindful of his utterances.
Gbara said such utterances were capable of overheating the already tense political atmosphere in the state.
He said though he believed in the Ogoni project, it was too early in the day to make such utterances considering the tense political atmosphere in the state and the fact that the election was still very far away.
The State PDP spokesman said Fubara enjoys immense support from the Ogoni people who are good neighbours to the people of Opobo and also in the same Senatorial District.
He further said Fubara has started the development of Bori town in Khana Local Government, the headquarters of the Ogoni people with the ongoing construction of the internal roads in the city and other people-oriented projects.
The statement reads, “The Senate President who is a notable leader in the South-South region is expected to make utterances that will calm the already tensed political situation in the State and not one that will aggravate it.
“Senator Akpabio’s statement knowing full well that there is a sitting Governor in the State, is demeaning of the office of the Governor, which he would not have tolerated in his time as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara Governor of Rivers State is the leader of the PDP and will choose his successor at the end of his tenure, with the input of Rivers people as the former Governor (Nyesom Wike) did in his own time.”
Continuing, he said, “Rivers PDP regretted that at a time when people are passing through excruciating sufferings, hardship, and hunger due to the bad state of the nation’s economy, the Senate president did not show any concern regarding what the poor masses are going through.
“Rather he (Akpabio) chose to make comments that angered the majority of Rivers people who are resolute in their support for the present administration led by Siminalayi Fubara.
“It would have been better if the Senate President had said things that would encourage them to continue believing in the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather than talking about the 2027 elections, which clearly shows that the Senate President does not care about the welfare of Nigerians.”
He however advised people of the State to ignore Akpabio’s statement and continue to stand with Governor Fubara and support his resolve to take Rivers State to an enviable height.
