Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Governor Siminalayi Fubara is responsible for the situation that led to his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gatekeepers News reports that Fubara had announced his move on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ gathering at the Government House in Port Harcourt, claiming he didn’t get any protection from the PDP.
In a statement signed by Ini Ememobong, its national publicity secretary, the PDP said the Governor knowingly took actions that brought him to his current position.
PDP said, “Volenti non fit injuria… Everyone who has followed the developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the Governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination.”
The party added that Fubara cannot blame the PDP or anyone else after making his choices on his own. It said, “Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or not protecting him.”
PDP also expressed concern that the Governor might develop Stockholm syndrome — where a victim falls in love with his captor. It added that despite everything, it still wishes him well.
The party said the defection reflects broader problems in the country’s political system. It accused the APC of trying to weaken democratic structures and push Nigeria toward a one-party system.
It said, “The Rivers situation is a testament to the dysfunctional nature of our democracy, where individuals are bigger and stronger than institutions and can use the apparatus of the Federal Government to obfuscate political life out of their opponents and bring them to their knees.”
PDP warned that democracy in Nigeria is under threat saying, “We reiterate to Nigerians and the global community that with the unrelenting disposition of the ruling party towards the attainment of a one-party state, and the constriction of the political space, democracy is under severe attack in Nigeria. Everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism.”
