Africa-Press – Nigeria. Elderstatesman in Rivers State, Bernard Mikko, has defended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing the move as necessary for self-preservation, political protection, and the overall welfare of the state.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Mikko said Fubara’s defection was not unexpected, citing the collapse of the PDP as a functional political platform in Rivers State and across the South.
Mikko explained that political realities in Rivers State, and Nigeria at large, often require leaders to align themselves with parties capable of safeguarding their positions and supporting governance.
He described Fubara’s decision as a rational response to the PDP’s inability to protect its members or maintain party discipline.
“The political environment demands that leaders make strategic choices,” Mikko said.
“Governor Fubara’s move reflects a practical approach to ensuring stability, effective governance, and the welfare of the people of Rivers State.”
“Nigerians, this move by Fubara yesterday, or the day before, wouldn’t come to any Nigerian as a surprise.”
Mikko argued that the PDP had become not as strong even as a banana leaf or a plantain leaf”since the end of President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
“Because the party became so weak immediately after the end of the tenure of President Jonathan.
“And the stakeholders, governors, during that 2014 convention, the first time they walked out of the convention and became the MPDP, which you are very aware of.
“Since then, all the moves they have been doing, I worked then as a special advisor to the policy monitoring, policy evaluation and monitoring. And I saw all what was happening.”
“The party members acted brazenly with impunity. The party became a franchise, you know, for trading. And all sorts of things.”
He stated that Fubara’s switch to the APC was not driven solely by personal ambition but by a commitment to ensuring stability in Rivers State and safeguarding his capacity to effectively govern.
“I think he’s right. Riversfield are happy that Fubara has found, he has negotiated his way into a stronger platform that can give him the kind of protection which Riversfield needs. It’s not about him.”
Mikko further stated that the governor had acted based on intelligence and security considerations.
“In politics, the most important thing is to align yourself to where you will be safe. He, as the chief executive of the state, understands perfectly well. We might be sitting on the sidelines. We don’t read security reports. He knows where his bread is buttered.”
“He knows what was going through. He knows what was happening,” he said.
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