By: Felix Ikpotor
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the National Leadership of the party to sanction its former national chairman, Adams Oshiomole and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi for anti-party activities.
It also called on the party to sanction leaders of the party from coming to Rivers State to campaign for the opposition.
This was contained in a protest letter signed by the state chairman of the party, Chief Emeka Beke and addressed to the national chairman, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi.
Beke said the APC in Rivers is now a laughing stock owing to the actions of some leaders of the party who are in the habit of either visiting Governor Nyesom Wike or coming to commission project in Rivers State.
He said, “it is disheartening to note, that any time these disgruntled leaders of the party with anti-party activities running in their veins, which is their stock in trade, visits Rivers State, they will openly make condemnation and scurrilous remarks, thereby demoralizing the spirited and concerted effort of APC members in Rivers State, all in an attempt to please Governor Nyesom Wike, their pay-master”.
“Your Excellency Sir, most recently, particularly, on the 16th of November, 2022 H.E Adams Oshiomole, the former National Chairman of our great party visited Rivers State on the invitation of Governor Wike to commission the Rumuepirikorm-Ada George Fly-over. During the commissioning, he said ‘‘I have seen the reason why Governor Wike used to win APC in Rivers State. Wike have very strong and energetic youths he is working with, which he use to win my party. Wike will you permit me to go with some of them from Rivers State to Edo State.’’
“Subsequently, on the 22nd of November, 2022, the Governor of Ebonyi State, H.E Dave Umahi, visited Rivers State on the invitation of Governor Nyesom Wike to commission the Akpabu-Omudioga-Egbeda Road and he said ‘‘Governor Wike you have tried so much, the only day you will see me in Rivers State campaigning is the day we will come here for the Presidential Campaign, apart from that, you will not see me again because all other positions, you will win.’’ The above statements were made on live television programmes and the videos will be produced when needed”.
Your Excellency Sir, it is disheartening to note, that the above statements were made by those who claims to be the leader of the party in their various states while romancing with opposition party against members of APC in Rivers State during this electioneering period.
The party wondered why national officers of the party has remained silent, pretending not to know what Rivers APC members, particularly the candidates are suffering from the hands of those named above because of the campaign against APC in the state.
The state party chairman said members of APC in Rivers State are no longer happy with the turnout of events and the way and manner the National Leadership of the party is treating them.
Beke in the letter demanded : “An unreserved public apology from H.E Adams Oshiomole and H.E Dave Umahi on a live television programme within seven days, a warning or alternatively suspension letter on H.E Adams Oshiomole and H.E Dave Umahi for anti-party activities and a directive attached with sanction, that henceforth, anybody coming to Rivers State on the invitation of Governor Wike should stop talking and campaigning against candidates of APC in Rivers State”.
They threatened that, ‘if the matter is not properly handled and our positions above granted and implemented, we will resort to taking our destinies by our hands’.
