Wike Deserves Rivers Ministerial Slot, APC Stakeholders Insist

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State under the umbrella of Amalgamation of Support Groups for Tinubu, Shettima, have insisted that former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, should be rewarded with a ministerial position in the Bola Tinubu led government.

The stakeholders, in a statement, said Wike was at the epicenter of the jinx-breaking result of Tinubu in Rivers State and should be allowed to benefit from the fruits of his labor.

The statement signed by the South East Coordinator of the group, Sir Victor Akpati, said it would be wrong to reward the Rivers State Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the last election, Senator Magnus Abe, with a ministerial appointment under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The statement reads in part, “It is already a known fact that the Amaechi-led faction of the APC Rivers remained implacable, adamant, and firmly resolved not to support Tinubu, even after Tinubu emerged from a free, fair, and credible Presidential Primary Election. Tinubu personally visited with colleague aspirants, including Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to solicit support for the Party.

“It is equally annoying to see Magnus Abe and his supporters claiming to have supported Tinubu’s emergence when the reverse is clearly the case.

We feel sad when we see them posting falsehoods in old pictures and video footage with the clear intention to deceive Nigerians of their involvement.

The stakeholders explained that since Senator Magnus Abe and his group defected to the SDP, they have not campaigned for Tinubu in any way.

“This is understandable, as the SDP had its own presidential candidate for the election. We challenge Magnus to provide evidence of any engagement where BAT was mentioned or any campaign logo of BAT/APC was displayed or worn after he joined the SDP.

“INEC records show that Senator Magnus Abe comfortably delivered the two voting units in his family house to his party, SDP, in the presidential election. His ward in Gokana LGA, Bera Ward 16, was also delivered to the SDP seamlessly. So, what is the foundation for the entitlement he claims to Tinubu’s presidency?

They explained that it was the Amalgamation Group, led by Chief Tony C Okocha that remained resolute in their support for Tinubu/Shettima in Rivers State after Magnus Abe and Ameachi abandoned the party in the state.

The statement reads further, “Therefore, any appointment slot for Rivers State given to Amaechi or any member of his member of his faction of APC Rivers State, is like giving a meal meant for the Children to the dogs.

“Same way, any attempt to concede any position to Senator Magnus Abe and his group (even as he is collating CVs from his SDP members) will amount to recompensing recalcitrance and disobedience on one hand, and an unholy attempt to rob Peter to pay Paul.”