The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has frowned at the way some of its governors snuggle close to the governor of the state, Mr. Nyesom Wike who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike has been entertaining visits from politicians across various political parties amidst the crisis in the PDP.
Recall that some APC governors of southwest extraction, including the governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his Ondo State counterpart and chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited Wike when he fell out with the PDP after the presidential primary which produced the former vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar as the party’s standard bearer for the 2023 election.
Speaking yesterday at a one-day consultative meeting with stakeholders in the south-south zone, held at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt, chairman of the party in Obio/Akpor local government area, Sydney Nyeche, said the visit to Wike “rubbishes” their efforts in trying to reclaim Rivers.
“Visiting Wike is an embarrassment to our efforts in trying to reclaim the state.
“We find it disrespectful that while we are toiling for the party in the state, some group of governors from the west (south-west) will come to the state, go to Rumueprikom and negotiate with Nyesom Wike.
“The attention of the national chairman is drawn to this because we will not tolerate this anymore. We have had enough.
“We urge the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to warn these governors from the west to desist from coming to the state to negotiate with the governor. This level of embarrassment we have suffered should stop.
“I cannot be threatened everyday because of my political leanings and somebody will come from the west to rubbish our efforts. If they cannot come to the state to show solidarity with us, they should stop coming to the state,” he said.
In his remarks, the state APC chairman, Mr. Emeka Beke, flayed the non-remittance of 25 per cent of funds generated from the sale of forms to candidates in the state during the party primaries to strengthen the party.
According to ThisDay, Beke demanded support from the national leadership of the party.
He emphasised that the state chapter would reciprocate in the same manner it was being treated.
“Please, we urge the national chairman that Rivers State bought forms worth over N1 billion and we are requesting that they should remit to the state 25 per cent of funds generated through the sale of the forms.
“If the money is not remitted to the state, they should forget about coming to the state to canvass for the presidential candidate.
“If the national body does not listen to us, we will take our destiny in our hands, vote for our House of Representatives members and Senate and put our focus on the governorship of the state, and we will win.
“The national body needs to support us, if not, we will not support them. We are loyal party men and we believe in the leadership of the party at the top, but they should support us,” he said.
