The dissolved faction of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, loyal to the previous Governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has denied defecting to the Peoples Democratic Occasion.
Equally, the faction led by Chairman of the dissolved Govt within the state, Chief Emeka Beke, dismissed claims that it was working with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Chief Beke, an ally of the previous Transport Minister, denied the cost throughout a information briefing in Port Harcourt.
Beke spoke in opposition to the backdrop of a viral video of him hugging and smiling with Wike at an occasion in Port Harcourt final Saturday, sparking hypothesis that he might have dumped Amaechi.
The embattled faction chief, nonetheless, mentioned there was no query of any coordination with Wike nor defection to the PDP, mentioning that the occasion he attended was the sixtieth birthday of a member of a membership of which he’s additionally a member.
He defined that he noticed Wike and lots of others on the occasion, saying that whereas exchanging pleasantries with a few of his associates, they begged him to say howdy to the FCT minister however he refused.
He claimed: “Initially, there isn’t any coordination in any respect. Isobo Jack, Chairman of the Rivers State Taskforce on Sanitation, who occurs to be the President of the Boys Firm of Nigeria, of which I’m a founding member, was celebrating his sixtieth birthday and he invited us.
“I got here from Okrika, the place I went for a funeral. And there was a time-frame for the occasion, from 6pm to 8pm. After I walked into the corridor round 6 p.m., I noticed a gaggle of individuals; I noticed the minister, Wike, and some different individuals.
“I shook arms with a number of of them and a few of them mentioned, 'say howdy to the honorable minister.' I mentioned no, that wasn't needed. You realize, we don't stream in any respect, on the finish of the day, as a result of I wish to be a gentleman, I began shaking everybody.
“After I arrived on the honorable minister's workplace, we began swearing – playful insults – and all that. You realize, I observed this was going to occur, I informed him, 'now I'm speaking to you, tomorrow morning photographs will development.'
“And I mentioned it clearly to Chief Emma Anyanwu, a PDP chieftain within the state, that 'look, I’m a member of the Rotimi Amaechi political household and I stay loyal to Rotimi Amaechi'.”
He additional mentioned that as a civilized particular person, every time he finds himself in an atmosphere the place there are individuals who have achieved a sure place, civility calls for that he work together with others, fairly than arguing with them or working away, which is exactly was what he did.
He added: “For me, I nonetheless keep the place I belong in politics. For me, Wike just isn’t an choice in politics in any respect. I can't work with him as a result of we don't have the identical model and I’ve to guard my integrity.
“I’ve no reference to him and I’ve not been there for any political assembly.”
Earlier, Publicity Secretary of the dissolved APC within the state, Darlington Uwauju, urged residents to disregard the Tony Okocha-led APC Caretaker Committee within the state.
Uwauju blamed the dissolution of the Chief Beke-led APC state govt by the nationwide management of the occasion, saying their tenure continues to be ongoing.
He acknowledged: “For those who have a look at Article 17 of our occasion, it’s in regards to the time period of workplace and the time period of workplace is 4 years. So our time period ends someday in October 2025, as a result of conferences have been held on October 16, 2021.
“You’re all conscious of the truth that on November 22, 2023, there was an announcement by the Nationwide Publicity Secretary of our occasion asserting the dissolution of all tiers; these are the district council, the native authorities and the state.”
Uwauju careworn that the legislation doesn’t enable the Nationwide Working Committee of the APC to dissolve an elected govt as carried out by the Abdullahi Ganduje-led Nationwide Govt.
