Fubara: You cannot cry more than bereaved – Ememobong

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, Ini Ememobong, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara directlyinfluenced how party leaders and supporters navigated the prolonged politicalcrisis in Rivers State. Ememobong made the remarks on Thursday during an appearanceon Channels Television’s Morning Brief. Speaking on the governor’s conduct throughout the situation,Ememobong said Fubara consistently urged supporters not to escalate tensions. “In that whole period, he discouraged people from fightingfurther,” he said. “A lot of the commentators who were coming out, includingthose attending the fair, kept asking what the position was. But he wouldalways say he would sort the matter out.” Ememobong explained that party leaders, particularly PDPgovernors, were careful not to take actions that might undermine GovernorFubara’s personal strategy. “You cannot cry more than the bereaved at the funeral sothat it won’t become suspicious,” he noted. “The PDP governors took their positions, they aired theirpositions, they took steps but the steps you’re taking are in furtherance ofthe person’s interest. You can’t file a case and then the person will tell you,‘I didn’t ask you to; you’re complicating my issues for me.’” According to him, this caution was driven by the governor’sreluctance at the time to openly confront those challenging his authority. “When he was ready to fight, everyone fought alongside him,”he added. “Look at the local government election; he had all thesupport from everywhere. Even when the state authorities were attempting topush him back, you saw how Nigerians supported him and fought back.” Ememobong further explained that supporters were hesitant totake aggressive action unless the governor clearly indicated readiness forconfrontation. “In a circumstance where you are not fighting from the frontand you’re asking people to backtrack, then people think fighting further willhurt your interest,” he said. “And since they love you, they also heed to you.” He concluded that political allies acted based on thegovernor’s signals, prioritising his long-term stability over immediateconfrontation.

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