By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Bro. Felix Obuah, the chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was a key figure in the crisis that led to the exit of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He followed up his claim with the election of Mr. Nyesom Wike as governor of the state and victories in key federal and state legislative positions.

In this interview with newsmen he speaks on the crisis in the national leadership of the party, the efforts of the state administration and how the party is keeping off opposition in the state. Excerpts:

What is the state of the PDP in Rivers State?

The Peoples Democratic Party is on ground and very strong. It is the leading party in the state and there is no doubt that our choice of Barr. Nyesom Wike as governor is a good one. He is Godsent to liberate the people of Rivers State from the grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and so far, he has done very well.

He is making things easier for the PDP in Rivers State because when you elect someone who keeps to his promises to the electorate, it is as good as keeping hope alive. So, the PDP is very much on ground in Rivers State and I can tell you that we have never had it better like we have at the moment.

•Bro. Felix Obuah

Is your chapter affected by the crisis in the party?

As far as I am concerned, there is no problem in the PDP. We had a convention in Port Harcourt, where we appointed a caretaker committee and the committee is doing well. Virtually all the elections that have been held since that convention had candidates sponsored by the committee. So, whoever is parading himself as PDP national chairman like Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is an agent of destruction planted by the APC, but we are not bothered. We are marching on and they will never have their way in Rivers State or any other place in Nigeria.

But your governor, invited him?

Our governor has said it time without number that he never knew Sheriff from the onset. Because he believed in transparency and team play, there was no way that he would have said no when his colleagues introduced Sheriff to the leadership of the PDP. He has never been a lone ranger, so he worked with others with the hope that it was in the interest of the party. When his colleagues introduced Sheriff as a good man, he said okay, but it was not long before Sheriff showed his true character.

His plan during the convention was to perpetuate himself in office. He wanted to be a lifetime chairman of the PDP. He fixed the convention, but little did we know that he went back to connive with some members of the party to perpetuate himself in office. That was the first signal. So, we said the man is not truthful and we cannot work with someone who is not truthful.

That was the beginning of our resolve to look for someone, who we can trust. If we say that we don’t want you as chairman, why must you kill yourself? Yes, he has created some kind of confusion but God will vindicate us. Anyone using him to destabilise PDP will not succeed. We don’t want Sheriff’s issue to distract us in Rivers State because the governor is focused on fulfilling his campaign promises.

Outcome of the legislative rerun elections

I am not satisfied because everyone saw what happened. It wasn’t an election but a war. A situation where security agents connived with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deny the people of their right is really unfortunate. In Rivers West Senatorial district, where I come from, we won the election but it was not an easy victory. In Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru, they held everybody hostage. It was because the people said their votes must count that we won the election. In Ogoni land, they never allowed election to hold.

They carted away all election materials because they were desperate to return Magnus Abe to the Senate. You cannot force anyone on the people and we have said it that we will challenge the outcome of that election. Rivers State is PDP and PDP is Rivers State, and we have continually preached peace so that the people will choose their leaders.

Magnus Abe’s election

Magnus Abe never won the election and the records are there. The people are crying foul because INEC connived with security agents to deny us of our hard-earned victory. Senator Olaka  Nwogu is the peoples’ choice and was duly elected, so they should allow him to represent his people because that is the essence of democracy.

Why is there always fear of election violence in Rivers

Developments in Rivers State are usually blown out of proportion. Rivers State is peaceful and not the way some people have painted it. Once there is election, you hear noise all over the place, but after the election, everything goes down. If the State is bad as they paint it, we won’t have investors coming down here.

We have major construction companies working in various parts of the State and we have not heard about any disruption. Our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is increasing. It is only during elections that you hear all sorts of tales about Rivers State to create the impression that there is insecurity in the State, so that they can muster enough security to aid them rig the polls. But, time has come when the people will say that no matter the number security that you mobilse, you cannot have your way.

Can APC take over Rivers in 2019?

We are not afraid of anything. Despite the challenges and the use of security agencies by APC, we still came out victorious. They know that none of their candidates can win election in Rivers State and that was why they wrote results and declared Magnus Abe winner of Rivers South East senatorial seat. APC members in Rivers State are defecting in their numbers to the PDP because they have seen the transparent leadership of Governor Wike.

There’s nobody who will not appreciate good thing. What the governor has done so far is not for political gains; he has touched every part of the state. The roads, hospitals and schools that he is building are for the people of Rivers State irrespective of political leanings. The level of insecurity in the state was high during Amaechi’s government because of his desperation but you can see that normalcy has returned since Governor Wike assumed office. Rivers State is calm and friendly.

Police investigation of violence during the rerun

It is clear to everyone that the APC is desperate to bring down the PDP government in Rivers State. They never imagined that the PDP would still emerge victorious after all they did in the state. But, they have failed to realise that God’s power prevails over every other power; that we are here today, is ordained by God and no human being can pull us down. Nobody can pull down Governor Wike’s government no matter how highly placed. The government is built on a solid foundation and God is behind it.