By: Felix Ikpotor
A former Commissioner for Health under Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s administration in Rivers State, Dr Sampson Parker on Sunday dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Parker who was said to be a private doctor of Amaechi before his appointment as commissioner, joined a long list of former associates of Amaechi who have in recently moved back to the PDP.
Speaking at Okochiri in Okrika Local Government Area, Parker who deswcribed his defection as “homecoming to the PDP family”, said his conscience and soul were at peace with his decision.
He also pledged his loyalty to the PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike who he lauded for his developmental strides in Kirikese Kingdom (Okrika).
He defected with over 2000 of his supporters to the PDP.
Receiving him, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said the decision was timely and in good fate.
Wike used the occasion to announce the award of contract for the second phase of Okochiri internal roads in the area.
Also awarded is the reclamation of 25 hectares of land at the ATC area in Okrika Island as well as the construction of Wakama-Ogu Road in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.
“I was here last time, and I promised the people of Kirikesegbese that I am going to award the second phase of the contract for the Okochiri internal roads.
“I also told the people of Kirikesegbese that I am going to sandfill 25 hectares of land at the ATC area of Okrika Island.
“Again, I told you people that I am going to award the Wakama-Ogu Road in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area.
“As of today, those contracts have been awarded since last Friday, and they will be executed by indigenes of your area,” he stated.
Wike lauded Dr. Sampson Parker for taking the bold step to come back to his former party.
He recalled the role played by Parker in the emergence of former governor Chibuike Amaechi in 2007, adding that his coming back to the PDP would add value to the party.
The governor urged political leaders in the area not to discriminate him, but ensure that he be carried along in the scheme of things.
“Dr. Parker was one of those God used alongside some of us to bring Amaechi in as governor of Rivers State in 2007.
“We thought that from that time, everybody will be united, but we didn’t know that some persons had different plans, but God’s plan is always the best.
“When I was leaving in 2012, I told Dr. Parker that things are not moving well, and I am going. But he insisted that I should remain as there was need for us to continue to be together.
“But I am happy today that my friend and brother has realized what I told him then, and has returned to the PDP.
“Dr. Parker came at the right time and nobody should discriminate him because with the level of politics he had played, he will add value to the party”, the governor said.
In his speech, the former commissioner for health, Dr. Sampson Parker, described the occasion as home coming to the PDP family.
He stated that his conscience and soul are at peace with his decision, and pledged his loyalty to the party.
Parker lauded the governor developmental strides in Kirikese Kingdom, and thanked him for accepting his return to the PDP.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Amb Desmond Akawor, who received Parker into the party, said the decision of the former health commissioner was based on the massive development projects the governor has sited across the state.
He described former governor, Chibuike Amaechi as politically dead, having lost key political allies in succession to the PDP.
In his goodwill message, the Leader of PDP in Okrika Local Government Area, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, thanked Wike for always rising to the occasion in defense of the people of Kirikesegbese.
He also lauded the governor for the various developmental projects executed in the area, and assured him of their support.
The Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Chief Philemon Iwoloma Kingoli, noted the love the governor has for the Okrikans, and promised to always stand by him.
