(Press release) Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) while reacting to what it termed some misguided insinuations in some quarters about a crack in the party because of the twin events of 10th February, 2018 in Rivers State involving some of the APC faithful, reiterated that the party is united, cohesive and ever ready to play its expected pivotal role in reshaping the politics of Nigeria come 2019 not minding some obstacles being posed on her way by some detractors.
The party clarified that the two events that took place in Rivers State by last Saturday involving party faithful though significant were organised for two different purposes. While that in Port Harcourt was to entertain friends of the party, secondly to pave way for some PDP bigwigs who are looking for soft-landing to join the party and save their necks knowing the woes that awaits them come 2019. Thirdly and lastly the Port Harcourt event was principally organised to thank God for the victories he granted the party during the last rerun elections in the State against all odds including the killings of most of our members.
On the other hand, the event in Bori the headquarters of the Ogoni land was held in continuation of the rebuilding and strengthening of the party ahead of 2019 general elections and principally to receive thousands of PDP members that defected to APC These clarifications becomes imperative to stop further disparaging of the party leadership and misinformation being peddled by some mischievous elements aimed at destabilising the party.
These clarifications was contained in a press statement circulated on Monday in Port Harcourt by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Media Consultant to Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the State Chairman of Rivers APC to media organizations and the general public. The statement further appreciated some of the party’s faithful and friends that attended both events at Bori the Headquarters of the Ogoni Land and Port Harcourt the State capital of Rivers State and commended them for their positive comments but reiterated that “we don’t have any crack in the party as erroneous stated by some of the visitors. In short, the party is now more repositioned to achieve her aim for 2019 general elections which is mainly to root out the current evil administration in the State under the watch of Chief Nyesom Wike.”
The party reiterated that no matter the challenges and misinformation being peddled by some of those that wish the party evil, “we will not be intimidated or influenced not to ensure power change come 2019 in the State. We know the current strategy of Governor Nyesom Wike which is aimed at weakening and destabilising the party to enable him have an easy ride to the Brick House but we will like to reassure him that his plots have failed even before it was hatched. The party current move to free the State from the shackles of misguided administration and rotates power from upland to the riverine area of the State is a task that must be achieved no matter the odds.
In this regard, the party commended and congratulated the elders, political leaders and Religious Leaders of Ikwerre extraction for accepting the faith that it will be unfair not support the move to shift or rather rotate power from the upland to Riverine Section of the State after two of their sons have governed the State for twelve good years.
The party stated that with Wike completing his draconian rule come 2019, the Upland Area of the State may have governed the State for 20 years (Dr. Odili – 8 years, Amaechi – 8 years and Wike – 4 years) without anybody from the Riverine Area testing power as the Governor of the State since its creation. The move to correct this evil act is the crime that Amaechi has committed against some uninformed commentators about the politics of Rivers State. The party maintained that it will pursue this goal that will address the injustice meted against the Riverine Area of the State no matter all the plots to frustrate it
The party promise to cure Wike of the terminal disease affecting him (Amaechiphobia) that makes him stressful and gives him nightmare by formally dislodging him from the government House come 2019.
The party urges all party faithful to keep faith with the party under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and disregard the efforts of those who think that by disparaging and abusing Amaechi that they will succeed in bringing down the party so that they will achieve the sinister goal of their sponsors.
“Let us reassure Nigerians and the International Community that we will provide adequate space for all aspirants who want to fly our flag without any discrimination as we are one virile, vibrant and united family. People are allowed to aspire to any leadership position in APC without any fear or inhibition. At the appropriate time when the national leadership of the party clears the processes for primaries, we will organise a very free and fair primaries that will embarrass enemies of the party thereby making the innuendo aimed at blackmailing the leadership of the party in the State as not necessary as we are capable and ready to do the needful at the appropriate time”.
The stand of the party notwithstanding we need to caution and counsel party members to be mindful of their choice of words to avoid creating tension and unwarranted bad blood amongst party faithful and the general public.
APC noted the efforts of those who spearheaded the decimation and killings of most of our people to enable them occupy their present positions in the State but assures them that the party will not in any way allow the blood of these martyrs to go in vain.
The party commended the Ogonis for turning out enmasse to accord the party leader in the region a resounding and heroical welcome indicating that the Ogonis are appreciative of the great things that Amaechi achieved for the area during his golden regime in Rivers State. “Let us reassure the Ogonis that we will do everything humanly possible to ensure the vision of Amaechi to create the greater Bori City will be actualised and that the area will not be neglected further after 2019 as Wike have demonstrated his hatred against the area by denying them basic amenities needed to develop the area. The fact remains that Amaechi’s love for the Ogoni’s is infectious as it is on record that he brought public light to Bori from Port Harcourt and ensured that most roads in Bori were done; placed most of their sons and daughters in crucial positions, granted scholarship to deserving sons and daughters of Ogoni extraction to study in foreign countries, built primary and secondary schools, health centres and roads in the area. Truly Amaechi is a true son of Ogoni as no other government has done these much for the Ogonis..
It noted that during the epochal event in Bori the headquarters of the Ogoni organised by the Free Rivers Development Initiative under the watch of Engr. Sampson Ngerebara who has proved himself that he is a great Mobilizer received thousands of PDP, Labour Party and I see Group that defected to the party assuring them of equal rights and privileges in the party. With these new entrants the party is now very focused of to cause change of guard in Brick House come 2019.
The party wished those attempting to rewrite the history of how APC was formed good luck but emphasised unequivocally that no body no matter how highly placed such a person is will confuse us not to remember that Amaechi’s life was attempted on various occasions because of the formation of APC and for his unalloyed drive to get President Buhari ouster a sitting President (Dr Goodluck Jonathan) during the 2019 general elections.
The party finally commended and appreciated all the members of the National Working Committee members of APC that attended the Ogoni event particularly the National Youth Leader of APC, the National Vice Chairmen of both North East and South-South Zones, South-South Working Committee, the Ogoni political leaders etc and other friends of the party that attended the Port Harcourt event.
