Altercations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have escalated following comments made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the funeral of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and son Chizzym in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
At the funeral service held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, both Akpabio and Fubara addressed the gathering, sparking a war of words between the two parties.
Fubara had said politicians ought to use the occasion to reflect on the vanity of their struggle for power, while Akpabio replied that if power pursuit wasn’t as important as painted, many of them wouldn’t be where they were.
In response, Sydney Gbara, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, described Akpabio as an enemy of Rivers State, citing his recent comments concerning the state as evidence. Gbara alleged that Akpabio’s anger was triggered by the applause that greeted Fubara’s remarks on the struggle for power among politicians.
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Gbara criticized Akpabio’s behaviour, stating, “His actions against Rivers people had never been pleasant but embarrassing.” He warned that if Akpabio continued to make negative remarks against Governor Fubara, he may not be welcomed in the state again.
The PDP also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and restrain Akpabio, claiming that his comments could provoke a crisis in the state.
But in its reaction, the APC accused Fubara of injecting politics into a solemn occasion, while the PDP criticized Akpabio for his response to Fubara’s comments.
Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee, criticized Fubara for veering off-topic and introducing politics into the funeral proceedings.
Okocha stated, “At a burial ceremony, if you have the opportunity to speak, you are expected to give a tribute. Even when you want to sing a dirge, you don’t introduce politics.”
He also defended Akpabio’s response, saying the Senate president was simply passing a message.
Okocha further criticized the PDP for attacking Akpabio, calling it a reflection of the type of politics being played in the state. He dismissed the PDP’s threats to declare Akpabio persona non grata, calling it “stupidity.”
Daily Trust reports that the clash between the APC and PDP over the funeral comments underscores the deep-rooted political rivalry in Rivers State.
As both parties continued to trade accusations and criticisms, the political atmosphere in the state remained tense.
