The PDP National Progressive Youth Initiative, a prominent youth organization within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has delivered a strong warning to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his associates in the National Assembly.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the group specifically criticized Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the representative for Ideato North South Federal Constituency in Imo State, for his ongoing verbal assaults against Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Ugochinyere, an opposition lawmaker, has frequently campaigned against Wike while consistently backing Fubara’s decisions in Rivers State.
This warning from the PDP youth group follows Ugochinyere’s recent media statements, in which he accused Wike of attempting to hinder Governor Fubara’s access to state funds through court orders allegedly initiated by the APC and pro-Wike factions.
Ugochinyere claimed, “The APC and pro-Wike group are, as we speak, filing a suit at the Federal High Court to seize the allocation meant for the entire Rivers State. This marks the second attempt by the Wike group to instigate constitutional chaos. They already have a pending case aimed at seizing all Rivers allocation and local government funds, and now they are leveraging the Wike-APC faction to file another suit to stop the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee.”
In response, the PDP Youth Initiative, represented by President Comrade Billy Matthew Nwachukwu and Secretary General David Terna Gondo, condemned both Governor Fubara and Rep. Ugochinyere, accusing them of evading accountability and transparency.
“They are both fearful of public accountability and are attempting to deflect attention from their failure to conduct proper local government elections,” the statement read. “The PDP will no longer tolerate any further attacks on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is tirelessly working to ensure the success of the government and the people of Nigeria through his infrastructure initiatives in the FCT.”
The group questioned why Fubara and Ugochinyere seem to be avoiding accountability, instead resorting to disparaging the judiciary and the FCT Minister.
“We recognize the tactics of certain so-called activists who resort to blackmail for their livelihood, and sadly, they have made their way into the National Assembly. These individuals lack legitimate sources of income yet boast of having paid over N700 million for a mere committee position,” they added.
The youth group called on the constituents of Ideato Federal Constituency to urge their representative to focus on his legislative responsibilities. “If he lacks the understanding of lawmaking, he should acknowledge his shortcomings and allow someone else to take his place,” they stated.
Furthermore, the PDP youth group threatened to stage a protest at the National Assembly if Speaker Tajudeen Abbas does not rein in Ugochinyere and prevent further attacks or unprofessional behavior towards the FCT Minister, whom they regard as a vital asset to Nigeria and President Tinubu’s government.