APC Rivers Chair Tony Okocha Reveals Directive He Received From The National Chair, Nentawe Over Fubara
The state leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers state led by Tony Okocha has disclosed what it referred to as instruction from above over governor Sim Fubara’s defection to the APC.
The Reliant.ng had reported how former governor Nyesom Wike attempted to influence the APC national leadership to block Sim Fubara from the joining the ruling party. Nyesom Wike had approached the party’s national secretary as well as the national chairman seeking that Fubara be blocked from joining APC in Rivers state. However, the two informed Nyesom Wike to be patient as they consult with the presidency on the matter. Nyesom Wike also attempted to get president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila to talk to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need for Fubara to be prevented from joining the APC. But Femi Gbajabiamila informed him that the president enjoins the parties to abide by and maintain the peace deal he had brokered between the two parties. Unsatisfied with the response from Femi Gbajabiamila, Nyesom Wike sought to speak to the president over the phone having failed to meet the president physically over the matter. While speaking to the president over the phone in a conversation that lasted barely a minute, the president reiterated his stance, emphasizing that he does not want any political infraction in Rivers state. He advised Wike to maintain the peace deal and work with Fubara in Rivers state.
Hence, Tony Okocha while speaking in recent interview, confirmed that there was an attempt by some powerful political leaders in Rivers state to block governor Sim Fubara from joining the APC. He disclosed that he had been directed by the national chairman of the APC, professor Nentawe Yilwatda to admit governor Sim Fubara into APC while recognizing his status as the number one member of the party in Rivers state as well as with some statutory privileges as the chief executive officer of the state.
“This is the standing order of our great party, all the state-governors are the leaders of the our party especially in their respective states and governor Fubara’s is not an exception. While there were efforts to prevent the governor from joining the progressive party within Rivers and outside but I assure you that we followed the directive from the national chairman of great party in admitting governor Fubara into our party.
Governor Sim Fubara is the leader of our great party in Rivers state. We are progressive and I will work for Fubara”, he stated.
Governor Sim Fubara while declaring his defection to the APC, assured the state’s leadership of his new party of his commitment to the party, promising to meet the needs of the party’s state’s leadership necessary for the party’s unity and for the presidential victory of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the state.
While Fubara’s defection to the APC has been made official, his erstwhile political benefactor, former governor Nyesom Wike is yet to make any comment on the development which is vastly seen as a means to diminishing his political influence over Rivers state.
