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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have made an appeal to former governor Nyesom Wike to lead the party.
The appeal was made by the former Local Organizing Committe (LOC) Chairman, Tinubu Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers State and National Chairman of the Protocol/Logistics Committee (TSGICC), Tony Okocha, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Okocha, who is concerned about the state of APC in Rivers, said since the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Wike’s party, seems not to appreciate the former governor’s worth, he (Wike) should join them (APC).
He noted: “Surprises again to say, that as a party forward-looking, there will be elections in the next couple of months or, yet, there will be another election in Nigeria, APC is not on the verge of breaking into extinction in Nigeria. But, truly, APC in Rivers State is haemorrhaging.
“When Godwin Emefiele and his team made it impossible for monies to move for the campaign in states, somebody made it possible for us to fund our agents in the 6,868 polling units in the state, and did the other groundworks and thereafter, voting activities took place.
“It does appear to us that the leadership of the PDP in Nigeria does not appreciate the influence, the pedigree that is embedded in Wike. So, we are asking and calling on Wike to come over to APC and lead us.”
Speaking further, Okocha urged President Bola Tinubu to recognize him and his group, having also contributed to his outright victory in Rivers State.
The former LOC chairman, Tinubu Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers State and National Chairman of the Protocol/Logistics Committee (TSGICC), said their entitlements should be given to the former governor because he (Wike) knew those that worked for Tinubu’s victory.
He stated: “As of right, we won the election because Rivers State is one of the states in Nigeria that delivered Tinubu outrightly. And in the whole of South-South and South-East, it is only in Rivers State that Tinubu won outrightly.
“So, we have a right of entitlement and our demand is that our right should be handed to Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. We say so because we are confident that as soon as it gets to him, he (Wike) knows who worked for Tinubu and it will get to us. It is only natural that that is how it will go.”
Meanwhile, Okocha has commended the president for taking a hard decision on the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He said: “This is because the fuel subsidy in this country is cankerworm. This removal is what we call a necessary evil. And so, the president is on a very good footing.
“Look at the reforms, the intervention in the electricity, look at the appointments that he is now taking cognizance of regional positions in the country and experts without minding who is involved.
“We can see the president putting square pegs in square holes in appointments, and nobody has been able to fault him on the appointments. He is somebody who does not have a godfather. He is a financial expert and knows the worries of this country and will fix it.
“We are happy to be associated with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has not disappointed us and he will make us very proud.”
