A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyke Ejie has said the former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike is capable to lead the party.
Ejie urged Nigerians to ignore the statement credited to the former House of Representatives member, Austin Wokocha, that the ex-governor Wike didn’t work for the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the state.
Recall that, Wokocha, who is a former Commissioner for Power and Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council in Rivers State, said Mr Wike is unfit to lead the APC chapter of the state.
But Ejie in a statement issued yesterday noted that any other person has the constitutional rights to belong to any political party and the authentic APC members agreed that Wike should join the party and lead them as a man of vision.
“Wike, like any other person has the constitutional rights to belong to any political party. And the authentic APC members agreed that Wike should join the party and lead them as a man of vision.
Recall that over the weekend, Wokocha in a press statement said that Rivers State APC never called, invited or appealed to Wike to lead the party over his support in the last election.
“If not ex-governor Nyesom Wike’s support, the APC wouldn’t have won in the State”. When the chips were down, Wike threw his weight behind Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had more political spread and acceptability. Remember, he led the G-5 governors who stood by equity, fairness and inclusiveness and insisted on a president from the southern extraction against all odds delivered President Tinubu which Mr President himself has acknowledged, came to Rivers State for a thank you visit.
“Let me state without mincing words, the public should disregard those acclaimed Rivers State APC leaders feckless press statement against the real and authentic Rivers APC members led by Chief Tony Okocha who fought, campaigned for Asiwaju ‘s victory. While some unscrupulous, shameless elements who acted as moles within the APC were working for Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe against Asiwaju’s victory.
“How can Austin Wokocha claimed to have worked for the APC when he made away with N65 million Presidential campaign rally fund on the eve of the rally in Port Harcourt, and was never seen until after the rally. It is a fact that Wokocha is not a member of the APC because he was planted by Sen Abe of the SDP who left the APC after he lost the primary election.
“So, Wokocha worked for Abe. Let it be on record, that Sen.Abe and Wokocha are no longer members of the authentic APC in Rivers State, never campaigned for Asiwaju but today want to decide who becomes APC member or not. He has no locus standi to do so.
“Darlington Nwauju who claimed to be the APC spokesman in the State had never spoken for the APC, during and after the election rather was in cahoot with Chibuike Amaechi, campaigned and worked for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar but failed and wants to come through the backdoor to speak for the APC in Rivers State, is not done”, Ejie said.
Let me state without equivocation, “Wike delivered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is from the Southern region, inline with his resolve and that of the G-5 governors for power shift to the South”, Ejie said. The authentic APC members has caretaker committee members in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State agreed to invite Wike over to lead them, is a call in the right direction. The fact remains that Chief Tony Okocha is the leader of APC in Rivers State and I reiterate the call for Wike to join the APC in Rivers State, lead us because he is a man with vision and can be trusted. It is his constitutional right to belong to a party of his choice. Mr Austin Wokocha, Darlington Nwauju are no longer member of our party but are members of the SDP and Amaechi’s party if he has any”, Ejie concluded.
“I urge Wokocha, Nwauju and there cohorts to keep off from all our activities and decisions in the state pending when they will come back to the party and should reap where they worked. Wike is welcomed in Rivers State APC and very fit to lead the party.”
