The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said it was obvious that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is an enemy of the Rivers people, as could be seen in many of his actions and activities in the state.

The party made the remark following a comment by the Senate president regarding a statement by Governor Siminialayi Fubara, during the burial of the late Herbert Wigwe, wife and son, at Isiokpo last Saturday.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Sydney Tambari Gbara, in Port Harcourt, the party said the Senate president derided the governor, despite the pains of the funeral of the Wigwes, by asking him (Fubara) to quit politics instead of calling politicians to operate with moderation and fear of God.

The PDP said it viewed Akpabio’s statement as insensitive and derogatory to the soul of the Wigwes and the office of the Governor of Rivers State.

It expressed worry that Akpabio has consistently shown disdain and an unimaginable level of hatred for Rivers State as shown in his utterances and actions against the state and its people.

According to PDP, “In 2021, when the youths of Niger Delta blocked the Akpajo-Onne section of the East/West Road following its dilapidated nature, Akpabio, then Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, out of sheer hatred for the Rivers people, deceived the youths and Niger Deltans by hiring some road construction equipment, moved them to the road, raising the false impression that the contractors had moved to site, but not long after the youth withdrew from the road, Akpabio moved the equipment from the road.

This is the same road he uses while travelling to his state of Akwa Ibom.

“Another instance of callous display of obvious hatred for Rivers people by Senator Akpabio was the harassment and attempted abduction of an illustrious daughter of the State, Joy Nunieh, during her appointment as NDDC acting Managing Director.

“Recently, at a ceremony in Tai Local Government Area, the same Akpabio had made vexatious, sarcastic and ridiculous remarks regarding the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State. All these, the PDP said, have exposed Akpabio’s desire to cause a crisis in the state.”

The PDP, according to the Publicity Secretary, said it is, indeed, sad that the Senate President has become a willing tool by the enemy forces and agents of darkness to fan the embers of disunity and destabilisation, through reckless and provocative comments each time he visited Rivers State, something he dared not try in his home state of Akwa Ibom, also a PDP controlled state.

“The PDP, therefore, uses this medium to advise Akpabio to refrain from verbal attacks and unguarded statements against Gov Fubara, as the people of the state would no longer take such reckless and irresponsible comments from a man who has taken the path of dishonour to join forces with enemies to destroy the state.

“We, therefore, enjoin the Rivers people to continue to have faith in the present administration as it is poised to deliver democratic dividends to the good people of the state.

“In the same breath, we also enjoin the Rivers people to rise up against petty actions and utterances capable of derailing the direction of our focused administration by joining forces with the PDP in its bid to declare enemies of the state, including Akpabio, persona non grata.” (Daily Sun)

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