• Says Wike is Welcomed in Rivers APC
• Describes Wokocha, Nwauju claims as baseless
From Idu Jude, Abuja
As the former Governor if Rivers State, Barrister Ezenwo Wike, prepares to join the Ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, prominent APC leader in Obio/Akpor LGA of the State, has dismissed as untrue the claims made by some persons that the ex-governor Wike didn’t work for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 Presidential election.
Recall that the rumour of Wike’s romance to APC has brought division among party members who have feels betrayed and that his emergence could deny them Federal appointments.
A press statement issued by a Rivers APC Chieftain, Comrade Ejie, in Abuja, Monday, becon on the people of the state to disregard the claims of Mr Austin Wokocha, who have embarked on campaign of calumny describing it as baseless.
Ejie said, “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. You could recall that over the weekend, Wokocha in a press statement had said that Rivers State APC never called, invited or appealed to Wike to lead the party over his support in the last election.
The statement further, indicated that he former Governor Woke, 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, when he came to Rivers State for a thank you visit.
The statement from Ejie, further read in parts, “Let me state without mincing words, the public should disregard those acclaimed Rivers State APC leaders with feckless press statements 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.
“Also a supposed grown man, “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 as Chief Tony Okocha on behalf of the authentic APC members stated in a press conference.
“It was the visit of President Tinubu on ‘a thank you tour’ to Port Harcourt, where he reconciled Wike and Abe , leading to subsequent withdrawal of the SDP/ Abe’s petition against the victory of the PDP in the state, that gave Wokocha the impetus to assume he is a member of the APC in Rivers State, whereas he is no longer our member until he decides to rejoin the party.
“However, Sen. Abe’s claim of campaign of calumny against his person to curry favour for a Federal appointment is baseless rather we set the records straight, that he reconciling with Wike doesn’t make him a member of the APC. He and his co-travelers should rejoin the APC.