“Things, are getting better “, members of the APC sang Saturday at the State party Secretariat.
Things appear indeed to be getting better for the APC in Rivers State. The party has become less rancorous of late and increasingly more focused, according to what keen watchers of the Rivers political scene are beginning to say.
Saturday, the APC received four close political associates of Governor Nyesom Wike, who berated the State leader of the PDP, accusing him of several atrocities against the Rivers people.
The heavyweights who denounced Wike and the PDP are Alabo Ibinabo Michael West, Dr. John Bazia, Chima Obinna and Chief Salvation Ezengwogwo.
Receiving them into the fold, the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi lauded the decampees for taking steps to abandon a sinking ship.
He recalled the relationship he shared with some of them while he was the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“Let me welcome my friends. Like they told you, they shared power with me in the Assembly. And I tell people that there are not up to 10% of politicians in Rivers state who didn’t pass through me.”
The Minister revealed how the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan made him offers in order to get him to remain in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
But noted that he turned the offers down because he was not sentimental and tribalistic.
‘If I were tribalistic, President Goodluck Jonathan offered me opportunity to remain in PDP, he offered me all sort of opportunities and I said that I have given my allegiance to Buhari because I am not tribalistic”, Amaechi explained.
Amaechi said he chose to work for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari because he is not one to base his actions on tribal considerations.
He announced that he and other APC leaders would resume seeking the face of the Lord from 2021.
”Next year, we are starting prayer sessions. You know, when Goodluck fought us, he was not fighting me, he was fighting God and I knew he would fail.
“Tell them from next year prayer will start. I will come to Port Harcourt like I used to come and I will say this will happen and it will happen”, Amaechi declared.
“Let me tell you who I am. I do not drink, I have never tasted alcohol in my life, I don’t smoke; I am not tribalistic. Whether in Rivers State or in Nigeria, I am not tribalistic”, he remarked.
In apparent reference to Governor Wike whose governorship bid he repeatedly criticized, Amaechi noted, “So, I say I am not supporting you for Governorship because I know your character.
“You know, when we went to Abuja, this young man started making noise. An elderly Nigerian called me and said keep quiet, very soon Nigerians will know who he is, now everybody knows who he is.”