….Describes Wokocha, Nwauju’s claims as baseless
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
A prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State has dismissed as untrue the claims by some unscrupulous, feckless persons that the ex-governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike did not work for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 Presidential election in Rivers State.
Comrade Ejie, in a press statement in Abuja, yesterday, called on the people of the state to disregard the claims of Mr Austin Wokocha, described it as baseless. He stated that the ex-chief of staff, 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 defection.
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.
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.
Comrade Iyke Ejie who was a member, APC Presidential Campaign Council and ICC for Asiwaju-Shettima, a strong and authentic APC member who witnessed all the drama that took place in Rivers State before, during and after the Presidential election, in his response to set the records straight that, “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.
“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.
He added that Wike delivered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is from the Southern region, in line with his resolve and that of the G-5 governors for power shift to the South. He 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 rights to belong to a party of his choice. Mr Austin Wokocha, Darlington Nwauju are no longer members of our party but are members of the SDP and Amaechi’s party if he has any.
“I urge Wokocha, Nwauju and their 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, 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, if they so desired”, Ejie stated.