He further acknowledged Wike’s instrumental role in the ascent of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the current President of Nigeria, asserting that some individuals aim to benefit from the fruits of others’ labour.
By Sandra Obi, Port-Harcourt
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its willingness to welcome former governor Nyesom Wike into their ranks if he chooses to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
During a press conference in Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, an APC chieftain and former Chief of Staff at the Rivers State Government House, conveyed this sentiment. There have been rumors circulating about Wike’s potential switch to the APC. Okocha, who previously served as the coordinator of the BAT-Vanguard (short for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Vanguard) in the South-South region, stated that Wike has the freedom to join any political party.
He further acknowledged Wike’s instrumental role in the ascent of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the current President of Nigeria, asserting that some individuals aim to benefit from the fruits of others’ labour.
Okocha stated, “We are noticing that some persons who abandoned Tinubu when Tinubu needed them most and voyaged outside the shores are now relying on their personal relationships one way or the other to begin to make some sense of entitlement.
“That they are entitled to whatever. In the leadership of the Tinubu family in Rivers State, we are at peace 100 per cent with His Excellency, Barr Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State as our leader.
“He who pays the Piper dictates the tune. When it was difficult, even when the national body could not oblige us with funds for the national rally here, the magic was done by somebody.”
Furthermore, he implored the ex-governor of Rivers State to promptly align himself with the APC in order to fully benefit from his contributions towards Tinubu’s presidency.
“Our demand is that nobody should rob Peter to pay Paul. Our own share of the booty given to us should be handed over to His Excellency Nyesom Wike.
“We are confident that as soon as it gets to him, he knows those who worked for Tinubu, and it will get to us.
“It is only natural, that is how it should go, ” he added.
In response to an aide of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who claimed that Wike’s ailment was not due to poisoning but rather excessive alcohol consumption, Wike denounced the statement as a display of disrespect by the party leadership.
According to him, “The leadership of the PDP in Nigeria does not appreciate the influence and pedigree embedded in Wike.
“A man goes to thank God for surviving poisoning and somebody said it was not poison but as a result of excessive alcohol.
“It does appear to us that the PDP does not know what they have in Wike. So we are asking and calling on Wike to come over to Macedonia and lead us.”
