…Says Ameachi never worked for Tinubu
The crisis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State fester on Thursday, as factional members led by Tony Okocha visited the party National leadership at the National Secretariat in Abuja and disparaged the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi.
According to them, the former Minister and who was APC Presidential Aspirant, never worked for the party and victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The factional group however said Ameachi rather mocked Tinubu’s health rather than support him.
In the statement read before the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the group said, “Amaechi with the consent of his Chief lieutenants (All of whom visited with Mr. Chairman a fortnight ago), made a decision to contest the Presidential Primary election of the APC. Unlike in the case of Rivers, a level playing ground was provided for all vying. In their campaigns, they threw to the dust, every sense of civility and made disparaging and unutterable aspersions against Tinubu. Nigerians saw the dramatic official declaration of Amaechi at the Adokie Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt. Flanked by Cole, Dakuku, et al, he ran round the Stadium to prove fitness and show off Tinubu as physically unfit, frail and incapable.
This followed with sponsored social media Jabs from their media savvy supporters and some hirelings, who inundated the new media handles with unprintable and unspeakable spews, graphics and concoctments.
“On one breathe, Tinubu was shown on graphics, wearing diapers as one who defecates/urinates on self, as caused by an ailment. On the other, still on graphics, Tinubu was found on medical stretcher as one too Old and on a departure lounge.
“A few of us, who believed in Asiwaju, were carefully isolated and audaciously obstracised from the Party. Yet we met them grit to grit.”
Further soeaking, the group said, “By the Party guidelines as to qualification to be a delegate, APC Rivers had 69 delegates. All the delegates were mobilised to Abuja with handouts. All the 69 delegates from Rivers State, emptied their votes into Amaechi’s box.
The question here is: Reading through the undeniable facts as encapsulated under the events of 2022 Presidential Primary preparation up to the voting itself, How did Amaechi, Tonye Cole, Dakuku, et al, support Tinubu?”
“The APC Presidential Primary which was adjudged as fair and credible, threw up a winner in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Asiwaju now as candidate, visited with All those who aspired with him, to seek friendship, support and cooperation to move the party forward.
Amaechi, the Leader of Cole, Dakuku, et al, was visited by the candidate himself, not by proxy. Did they accede to the honest request of the Candidate?
“In Rivers State, hostilities against Asiwaju as candidate of APC mounted even more, unashamedly. No campaign was staged by the Party in Rivers State, for her Presidential candidate nor was Tinubu’s candidacy mentioned in any of their campaign rallies in the 23 Local Government Areas. No billboard.
“No backdrop at campaign venues. Only two out of the 15 candidates for House of Representatives, shared campaign posters with Tinubu’s picture or sign. (The two who did, were so bashed and seen as betrayers).
“Tonye Cole as candidate of APC Rivers for Governorship, was the coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, in Rivers State. From the inauguration of the PCC in Abuja in October, 2022, where State chapters were charged to replicate same in their respective States, till the second week in January, 2023, no meeting of PCC members was convened by Mr Cole.
“Those of us as seated here, representing the Asiwaju family in Rivers State smelt a rat. We made frantic efforts to get Mr. Cole to convene a meeting of PCC members so that we can plan on how to proceed with our assignment, fell on deaf ears.
“Of course, both the body language and the express instructions of his mentor, would not allow him. On the Presidential election and Ameachi’s participation, they said, “both the Presidential and National Elections took place on the 25th of February, 2023.
“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 thusly, mandated to transport to their supporters in the 6868 polling units, 319 wards and 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
“So, how did they contribute to the Party’s Presidential victory in Rivers State and unable to deliver their members who contested National Assembly elections on same day?
“Mr Chairman, for the records, though in passing, We note that since the democratic dispensation that started in1998 and later heralded election in1999, PDP had always won both the Presidential and Governorship Elections back to back in Rivers State.
“How did APC win the Presidential Election in Rivers State, while the PDP won 13 out of 15 federal constituencies in Rivers State, losing one to the APC and One to the Labour Party?
“We are aware and wish to share with our indefatigable National Chairman and well experienced NWC members, that the incessant visits of those pretenders to the National Secretariat, smark off sinister motives. Otherwise, why should the essence of their visits, not bother on how the fragmented APC Rivers will be rebuilt?
“Finally, we pray Mr Chairman to discountenance the machinations of the pretenders, who via hues and cries and trumping up lies, want to negate the Natural law that aptly recommends that “One reaps where the one sows.
“Those persons Never supported the Party nor are they sincere in their hearts, to be happy that President Tinubu made it to the Presidency.
“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 through the leader of the Political infantry in RIvers State, who is serving in the Federal Cabinet presently.”
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje in his response said, “There is no doubt River State is a very important state in Nigeria, an oil state and also a reasonably Population.
“Population is an asset for election and is an asset to any political party.
“So you can see how we cannot rubbish the state, Rivers as a state in politics is a very important state. I welcome you and I listen to you with a keen interest.
“So the trivail of APC in Rivers started in 2015 when we had a government and lost a government.
“But in summary, our party in River State is highly factionalized, that is a fact about it.
“We don’t want too much analysis because they say too much analysis leads to paralysis.
“So give us a chance so that we can consult, so that we look at the constitution of APC and then we wait and see how we can put things in order.”
It would be recalled that the faction of Rotimi Ameachi APC in Rivers State recently visited the APC National leadership with the allegation of APC abandoning them.
