Drama played out on Sunday as the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stormed out of the screening hall of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja in anger.
Others who were screened successfully on Saturday included other incumbent governors, but Fubara and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Francis Nwifuru, were conspicuously absent.
When asked about Fubara’s absence during the screening, the Chairman of the Committee and APC Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, said that state governors who had official engagements were excused.
“Three governors have not come, so that is the issue,” he said. I said you should not pick out one person when three governors have not shown up. They all have their reasons for not appearing, and we know they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities.
“So, any governor that has state issues to attend to, whether the governor of Kwara State, Ebonyi State, Rivers State, we excuse them.
However, Fubara eventually arrived at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge, where the exercise was holding at about 3pm on Sunday but walked out of the screening room after 20 minutes and his demeanor visibly changed.
Fubara, who was seen visibly angry from his countenance, refused to grant interviews to journalists who had waited hours for his arrival, Daily Trust reported.
When reporters asked how the exercise went, a visibly upset Fubara said, “No comment.”
The incident may also be seen as a setback to Fubara’s re-election bid, and the next move of the Governor is uncertain.
Recall that Fubara has been involved in a running battle with his estranged political godfather cum the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Wike is speculated to have resolved to replace Fubara with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
