The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, has revealed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara played a decisive role in shaping how party leaders and supporters handled the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Ememobong said the governor repeatedly urged his supporters to avoid escalating tensions, even at the height of the standoff.
“In that whole period, he discouraged people from fighting further,” he said. “Many commentators kept seeking clarity, but he would always insist he would resolve the matter himself.”
According to Ememobong, PDP governors and other party stakeholders were cautious not to take steps that might conflict with the governor’s personal approach to the crisis.
“You cannot cry more than the bereaved at the funeral,” he noted. “The PDP governors aired their positions and took steps, but all in line with his interest. You can’t file a case only for the person involved to say, ‘I didn’t ask you to; you’re complicating things for me.’”
He explained that the reluctance came from Governor Fubara’s earlier unwillingness to openly confront those challenging his authority.
“But when he was ready to fight, everyone fought alongside him,” Ememobong added. “Look at the local government election — he had support from everywhere. Even when state authorities attempted to push him back, Nigerians rallied behind him.”
He said supporters avoided aggressive moves unless the governor signaled readiness for confrontation.
“In a circumstance where you’re not fighting from the front and you ask people to backtrack, they believe pushing further will hurt your interest,” he said. “And because they love you, they obey.”
Ememobong concluded that political allies aligned their actions with the governor’s signals, prioritising his long-term stability over immediate political battles.
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