RIVERS STATE

PORT HARCOURT- The All Progressive Congress(APC)in Rivers, on Monday urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, to join the party in the state.

Its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, made the remark while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt in reaction to the defection of the 27 lawmakers into the party from PDP.

Okocha, who is also the State  Representative in the  Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), expressed joy over the steps taken by the defectors.

He said that the party had been communicated to officially by the  defectors, which made the defection true and not a rumour.

Okocha commended the lawmakers for their bold steps in defecting to APC, saying that the remaining four members in the house cannot be equated to the 27 members.

On whether or not the reason for defection was to prepare grounds for Wike to defect to APC, he said, ”I don’t think so.

”Whatever their reason is, when they get to the bridge they will cross it.

‘’Wike is a politician whose name shakes and echoes in the society; so nobody can think or say for him if he will defect to APC or not.’’ .

Okocha said that the party in the state needed Wike to join it to assist it, adding,” we are not begging him to join; in 2023. he immensely aided the victory of APC in the state.”

On claims that Wike will be in PDP till 2027 to aid its victory like he did for APC in 2023,, Okocha said, ”the party did not firmly see him do that.

‘’The best thing we are asking him to do is to come and join the APC because it is the government in power.”

On whether or not the lawmakers’ defection was a plan to impeach the sitting Gov. Fubara, Okocha said that the impeachment of a governor was not a one- day affair or a coup.

He explained that the defectors did not tell him if their defection was to impeach the governor and as such, could not speak for them on that ground.

Okocha explained. ”If the  state governor has decided to give vent to the four persons over above the 27 persons, then you know that it is a complete anatomy and would not be tolerated by anybody.”

He said the state had gone past the era of 16 members being above 19 members like in the previous regime.

Okocha said that the defectors allegedly confided in him that there was no good governance in the state.

He said that the new entrants into APC  would be formally received into its fold on Sunday. (NAN)

Dr Dakuku Peterside, a former Member of the House of Representatives, has condemned the political crisis in Rivers State and the attempt to impeach the Governor Sim Fubara.

Recall that some unknown persons on Sunday night set some sections of the Rivers State House of Assembly on fire in what is seen as a politically motivated violence. 

On Monday, an impeachment notice was served on the Governor by a faction of the state House of Assembly.

However, in a statement he personally sighed on Tuesday, Peterside, a turnaround expert and 2015 governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, called for peace from the warring parties. 

He said the state governor, who is barely five months in office, had not done anything that should justify any move to impeach him.

He said no one’s personal ambition should override the interest of Rivers State. 

His full statement reads:

LET REASON PREVAIL 

1. I have watched with utter disbelief and disgust the most recent developments in Rivers State. 

2. Our once peaceful Rivers State has been turned into a theatre of the absurd by desperate political actors who do not wish the State well. 

3. I condemn, in all ramifications, the raw violence that followed what should ordinarily be average political engagements 

4. I also completely condemn the unwarranted disruption of normal governmental activities by politically motivated interest. All people of goodwill who love our dear State and democracy must condemn this in no mean measure.

5. I have read in the media, impeachment issues and the like. In good conscience, impeachment issues cannot arise in less than 5 months of incumbency. It sends the wrong signal that our State is a land of theatrics.

6. Nothing in the political landscape has shown that the Executive Governor has compromised the State’s interest or put our State in a severe security quagmire. 

7. I have always said that no pursuit of personal interest or ambition can override the interest of Rivers State and its people. We, political leaders, must always watch our actions and tame our excesses. 

8. I appeal to all political actors to allow time and space for the Governor to do his job. Only one Governor can function at a time. I also appeal to members of RSHA to focus on the business of law-making and get less distracted by the pursuit of personal ego or narrow pecuniary interest. 

9. Finally, I appeal to all leaders in Rivers State to intervene in measured terms with the overall interest of our State in mind. Posterity will judge all of us. Let us allow reason to prevail, please.

Dr Dakuku Peterside 

Political leader. APC Leader. 2015 Rivers State Governorship candidate of APC.