The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the defection of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “self-inflicted injury”.
The governor announced his defection on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the government house in Port Harcourt.
During his announcement, Fubara said he “didn’t get any protection from the PDP”.
In a statement by Ini Ememobong, its national publicity secretary, the PDP said the governor voluntarily walked into the trap that led to his exit.
“Volenti non fit injuria” (to one who is willing, no harm is done). Everyone who has followed the developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination,” the party said.
“Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or not protecting him.”
The PDP prayed Fubara does not develop “Stockholm syndrome — where a victim falls in love with his captor. In all, despite these, we pity the Governor and wish him well”.
The party said Fubara’s defection underlines the weakness of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, adding that APC is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
“The Rivers situation is a testament to the dysfunctional nature of our democracy, where individuals are bigger and stronger than institutions and can use the apparatus of the Federal Government to obfuscate political life out of their opponents and bring them to their knees,” the statement added.
“We reiterate to Nigerians and the global community that with the unrelenting disposition of the ruling party towards the attainment of a one-party state, and the constriction of the political space, democracy is under severe attack in Nigeria.
“Everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism.”
