Defection rumours: Wike unfit to lead Rivers APC, says party chieftain

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Augustine Wokocha, has faulted calls being made on the former governor, Nyesom Wike to defect and lead the opposition party in the state.

Recall that a former Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday called on Wike to cross over and lead the APC in the state, amidst rumours of his planned defection from the Peoples Democratic Party.

But a former Commissioner for Power and Coordinator of the disbanded Tinubu/Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council in Rivers State said Wike is unfit to lead the opposition party in the state.

Wokocha who said this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday also said Okocha’s claims that the former governor solely delivered the state to Tinubu in the last general election and deserves to be rewarded is untrue.

He stated, “The victory of Bola Tinubu in the last election in Rivers State cannot be given to one individual.

“It is a combination of the over 200, 000 votes from Rivers who pended their thumb for the man who is our President today.

“I ran the campaign for the Tinubu election. I can’t remember anywhere, anytime when the immediate past governor of Rivers State canvass any support for the President.

“I can’t remember any forum when he referred to the candidate of our party. He did not direct his people to vote for him, to my knowledge. So I don’t know what Okocha means by Wike immensely contributing to Tinubu’s Victory.

“So it is important we continue to appreciate Rivers people. And of course, people worked, those who did the canvassing to convince people that Tinubu was a better candidate also deserve our appreciation and gratitude.”

Wokocha however said that he is not opposed to the former governor joining the APC if he so desires, but the party was not in search of a leader as she has one.

He however said, “Candidly speaking politics is the more the merrier. So Wike coming to the APC is a welcome development.

“What is an aberration is to say Wike should come and take over the party. This is the same party that its members were hounded like grasscutters by those supporting the man who is being invited to join the party today.

“It was the same Wike who said APC is cancer stage four and the PDP is malaria. But he is welcome if he has suddenly realised that our cancer is better than malaria he is suffering from.

” But it will be a major disservice to the people of Rivers State to say Wike should come and lead the APC in Rivers State. APC is not lacking leadership.

He stated that Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and him remain the leader of the party, saying it was not in dispute.

While nothing that President Bola Tinubu has come to work and has started well, he said anyone in the state who gets an appointment will be celebrated.

“But nobody should take credit that is not his own and take claims that are not theirs. We won’t allow such misleading not our people,” Wokocha stated.