The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Rivers State, Leader Sampson, has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, without first consulting Rivers people.
Recall that Governor Fubara on Tuesday, confirmed that he would be joining the APC during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House.
Fubara explained that his decision to defect was taken in the interest of Rivers people, adding that he had received the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the development, Sampson said it was not enough for the Governor to meet with a few supporters and claim he had consulted them before leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, the ADC Chairman said the move was largely expected but argues that no serious Rivers person would take Governor Fubara seriously, describing him as “inconsistent and indecisive.”
He said, “No Rivers person that is a serious person will take Governor Fubara serious. It’s very obvious, he has been a man that has been very inconsistent and indecisive about what he should do.
“And we are not surprised that, he has as a baby, a suckling, he has ran to the APC, probably at the request of the Presidential or he went to beg the President that he wants to join the APC.
“Which ever way, in his speech, he said the President is the reason why he is still the Governor today and that if joining the APC is a way of telling the President thank you.
“The truth is that, has Governor Fubara consulted Rivers people that gave him that mandate?
“You cannot put a group of people together and say they’re your supporters and that you have consulted with them or you’ve come back to come and speak on behalf of Rivers people to say you are defecting to the APC.”
Sampson added that the Governor’s defection further shows that many individuals entrusted with leadership positions in Nigeria are “indecisive” and unable to take a firm stand on critical issues.
He, however, described the situation as a positive development for the ADC, insisting that Nigerians have rejected the APC due to the hardship and insecurity facing the country.
According to him, the defection presents an opportunity for the ADC to engage Rivers people and provide a credible alternative.
“Most of the people that we entrust leadership to them are people that are very indecisive, are people that cannot take a stand in any issue.
“For the ADC, it’s a good omen for us. It shows that Rivers people, Nigeri have rejected the APC.
“So, Fubara joining them, it also means that him Fubara has also rejected Rivers people and it is an opportunity for the ADC to harvest the good people of Rivers State that are willing, that don’t want to die.
“The APC that we’re talking about that Governor Fubara has gone to join is the APC that has brought poverty to Nigerians, brought poverty to Rivers State, killings.
“People are dying everyday, terrorism, banditry everywhere. You cannot travel by road in this country. And that’s the same APC government that Fubara has now announced that he’s going.
“So, for we in the ADC we don’t take him seriously. It’s an opportunity for us to reach out to Rivers people and give Rivers people a credible alternative, which is the ADC.”
Responding to concerns that the ADC has been quiet despite its ambition to become the main opposition party, Sampson explained that the party was working strategically behind the scenes.
He said that when the time is right, the ADC will fully unveil its plans and make its position known to the people.
