A faction of the Rivers state All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders Thursday told the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, to contact them for appointments through the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The leader of the delegation, Tony Okocha, who was a former Chief of Staff to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, during a meeting with the National Working Committee of the party.
He said it took the intervention of Wike, whom he described as the “political infantry” for APC to win the state during the 2023 presidential election.
Okocha expressed dismay that a faction of the party in Rivers State led by Tonye Cole and Dakuku Peterside, who recently paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the party, was lobbying for political appointments despite working against the party.
He noted that their incessant visits to the National Secretariat of the party smark of sinister motives, saying otherwise, why should the essence of their visits, not bother on how the fragmented APC Rivers would be rebuilt.
He alleged that prior to the election, Amaechi called a meeting where he informed them that he had struck a deal with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and directed them to vote the PDP against the party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu.
Okocha stated: “In Rivers State, the leader of the slant which Cole and Dakuku, et al, belonged, had helmed up alliances with the PDP Presidential Candidate, HE, Atiku Abubakar. Atiku and not Tinubu should be voted for in the Presidential Election.
“This wicked resolve against the APC in Rivers was openly announced in a meeting at the instance of the leader at his private residence in Port Harcourt, thickly attended by Mr. Cole, Dakuku, Chukwudi Dimkpa, et al, members of the innermost caucus.
“It was handed down that Tinubu must fail in Rivers State. They were mandated to transport to their supporters in the 6868 polling units, 319 wards and 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State.”
Okocha maintained that the Amaechi’s favtion never supported the party nor were they sincere in their hearts to be happy that President Tinubu made it to the Presidency.
His words: “Mr. Chairman, we summarise that the only group in APC Rivers State legitimate to seek compensation for the victory of APC/Tinubu in RIvers State, is the one here.
“Please contact us for our dues and appointments through the leader of the Political infantry in Rivers State, who is serving in the Federal Cabinet presently.”
Responding, Ganduje urged the political actors in the state not to overheat the polity.
He noted that the travails of APC in Rivers started in 2015 when the party had a government and lost a government.
Ganduje noted, “Our party in River State is highly fictionalized, that is a fact about it. Our party in Rivers state was killed by litigations, that one is a fact.
“And one important question that you asked. How come we won the presidential election and lost the state election? You said that was a miracle. Yes, if you say a miracle, there must be a messiah.”