“At this point we must be realistic… We operate a ‘malutocracy’; we don’t have political parties anymore, but platforms for political contestations…”
President of the Ijaw Nation, Professor Benjamin Okaba, says Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s rumored defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not be criticized if it contributes to resolving Rivers State’s political crisis.
Appearing Thursday on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Prof. Okaba responded to reports of Fubara’s potential switch following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos. “There’s nothing wrong about that,” he said.
“At this point we must be realistic… We operate a ‘malutocracy’; we don’t have political parties anymore, but platforms for political contestations,” Okaba added. “If we have state governors and former vice presidential candidates of parties just moving on, to the extent that one of the governors said, ‘If you don’t move with me, I will sack you.’”
He emphasized Fubara’s earlier pledge to “do anything to bring back peace to the state,” noting that such a political decision should be seen through the lens of stability and not partisanship.
President Tinubu had in March declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State Assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as administrator.