APC chieftain accuses Governor Wike, aides of attempting to blackmail Amaechi
- The rumbles in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has been linked to the state governor, Nyesom Wike
- This is the submission of a chieftain of the party, Chief Callistus Nwachukwu
- Nwachukwu accused the governor and his aides of trying to blackmail top APC chieftains in the state
The coordinator of the APC non-indigenes in Rivers state, Chief Callistus Nwachukwu, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike, his aides and three others of trying to blackmail the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and ex-commissioner for agriculture Emma Chindah.
Nwachukwu noted that the group’s former coordinator, Chief Uchenna Okokoba; the former vice chairman, Wole Agunbiade; and former secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Tanko who resigned their membership of the APC recently, did so for selfish interest.
According to The Nation, Nwachukwu said the three former officers should not be taken seriously by members of the public.
READ ALSO: Social media monitoring: FG planning to muzzle opposition - PDP
Making reference to a social media post made by the special assistant to Governor Wike on social media, Oraye St. Franklyn, about messages purportedly sent to the defectors to return to the party for monetary rewards, Nwachukwu described the allegation as mere fabrication and a lie.
Franklyn posted on Facebook, a message allegedly from Chindah to Okokoba, which read: “Chief Okokoba, what is happening? You promised to come yesterday (Saturday), but I did not see you and you are not taking your calls. You know I deserve respect from you, as a former commissioner.
“I told you that Hon. Minister (Amaechi) sent me to Port Harcourt because of you and he dropped N20 million for you and your group. Please, make sure you come to my house this (yesterday) morning, after service, by 11 am. I will go back to Abuja by 12 noon."
St. Franklyn then stated in another Facebook post: “APC in Rivers state has finally collapsed, with the defection of the coalition of non-indigenes in the party to the PDP. All efforts to get them back by Hon. Emma Chindah, on the instruction of Minister Amaechi have completely failed.
“Chief Okokoba says there is no going back, as he has moved out of the APC and solidly identifies with the PDP and Governor Wike, on the strength of the Rivers governor’s performance, reliability and popularity.”
In reaction, Nwachukwu said: “On Saturday, our former coordinator, Chief Uchenna Okokoba; the former vice chairman, Wole Agunbiade; and the former secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Tanko, went on air to announce the resignation of their portfolios and their membership of our great party, the APC, in Rivers state.
“Their resignation was unilateral. They did not consult the executive members of non-indigenes APC in Rivers state, the stakeholders, unit leaders and the elders of the party. We believe that their decision was borne out of their personal interest or for pecuniary reason.
“There is a rumour going round, which we deem necessary to debunk. The three former officers have been going round, claiming that our great leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the transportation minister, through somebody, has been making overtures of N20 million to them to rescind their decision and return to the APC. That is a lie from the pit of hell.
“They are using it (N20 million overture claim) as a game plan to shore up their market value and increase their bargaining power with PDP. They do not possess any value. They should be very careful. The three estranged officers are on their own.
“Hon. Emma Chindah is one of the leaders of APC. There was never a time that Hon. Emma Chindah met with the so-called Okokoba, much less of offering him money.”
READ ALSO: Governor Ahmed free to leave the APC - Party caucus says
Just recently, the APC in Rivers state tongue-lashed Governor Wike for allegedly spending a whooping N1 billion to hire two different groups to endorse him for his second term bid.
In a statement made available to Legit.ng by Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, the party’s spokesperson in the state, the APC said Wike spent N500 million to hire the non-indigenes from Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom states to march to the Rivers Government House in order to endorse him for an “unmerited” second term in office while he has refused to pay the six months salary owed to civil servants and arrears to pensioners.
The party also alleged that the governor wasted another N500 million to hire women from Bayelsa and Delta states, and presented them as Rivers women “to endorse him to continue to exhibit his mediocrity in governance.”
APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
