A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State Iyke Ejie has described as untrue the claims by some “unscrupulous and feckless” persons that former governor Nyesom Wike did not work for the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 election in the state.
In a press statement he issued in Abuja, yesterday, Ejie appealed to the people of the state to disregard the claims of one Mr Austin Wokocha, saying it was baseless.
He said the former chief of staff to the governor, who doubles as the authentic APC leader in Rivers State at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, on behalf of the Rivers State authentic APC called on Wike to cross over and lead the state APC amid rumours of Wike’s anticipated detection
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.
Last 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.”
But Ejie, who was a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and ICC for Asiwaju-Shettima, who said he witnessed all the drama that took place in Rivers State before, during and after the presidential election, said, “If not for 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 for 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 statements against the real and authentic Rivers APC members led by Chief Tony Okocha who fought, campaigned for Asiwaju ‘s victory. While some unscrupulous and shameless elements who acted as moles within the APC were working for Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Ngei Abe against Asiwaju’s victory.
“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 Senator 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, Darlington Nwauju who claimed to be the APC spokesman in the state had never spoke for APC, during and after the election rather was in cahoot with 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.
