Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is time for the Board of Trustees of the party to wade into the political crisis in Rivers State.
There has been a no love lost relationship between Nyesom Wike, former governor of the state and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike, the current Minister of FCT is accusing Fubara of disloyalty and publicly said he regretted presenting him as governor to the people of Rivers State.
Speaking on Channels Television, Bode George said the crisis between the duo is already spreading to the base of the PDP.
According to him, the PDP BoT, led by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara are not just elected to warm the benches but to step in and resolve differences between party members before things get out of hand.
“In Rivers State, we have Nyesom Wike, the former governor and then the current governor, Sim Fubara. There is some kind of disagreement between the two. Now, the thing is spreading to the base of the party. There are leaders and elders too have waded in and I’m told it didn’t go well”.
“It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the party to wade in. That is the upper chamber of the party. Let them get people to go and meet group A and group B. They have leaders on either sides. This party didn’t just come from anywhere. That was how Papa Ekwueme and others ensured there was continuity and peace”.
“Once you have more than one, two or three people in an organisation, they will disagree. We must disagree but we must never be disagreeable. We will have differences of ideas and opinions and that is why we have elders”.
“That is why the Board of Trustees is created because they are to maintain and sustain the peace that we need. When two groups are fighting one another and the National Working Committee cannot handle it, they bring in the Board of Trustees people. These are elders who have seen it all before”.
“Let the BoT chairman now, Senator Wabara and his secretary get up. They are not just to be warming the tables and chairs in that office. Let them get some elders. One or two of these founding fathers are still alive but they are not in good health”.
When asked if the PDP should wield the big stick on members engaging in anti-party activities, George said “When you talk about the big stick in politics, it will disrupt the foundation”.
