Dr Tony Okocha, the factional Chairman of the All Progressive Congress(APC), in Rivers, has said that FCT minister Nyesom Wike and the 27 lawmakers loyal to him the state House of Assembly have not agreed to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Okocha said this in Abuja at a press conference on Thursday.
He insisted that the 27 Rivers lawmakers who are currently locked in a bitter political struggle with Gov. Siminalayi Fubara were also not members of the APC.
“People say Wike has decamped to the APC. They also say that the 27 lawmakers currently fighting with Fubara have defected to the APC.
“I need to make this clear to everyone. Much as I wish to have them in my fold, none of them has agreed to join us.
“I am the one that should know if they did. But, clearly, they have not.
“What the lawmakers did was a political gimmick.
“I tried to woo them, but they kept vacillating and did not.
“To defect, they must go to their wards, register and get their membership cards. None of them has done that,” he said.
Okocha was particularly categorical in declaring that Wike would not leave the PDP.
“Wike will never leave the PDP.
“He has always said that PDP made him what he is. He has always said that he would remain there.
“He is an ardent believer in PDP. He is not likely to leave that group,” Okocha said.
He, however, said that Wike is a member of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In Rivers, I am 001 in APC, but in the Renewed Hope Agenda, I am 002. Wike is 001,” he explained.
He also spoke on Wike’s influence on Rivers’ politics
“Wike has done so much for Rivers, so he is strong.
“In the next 10 years, Wike will continue to influence the political direction in Rivers.
“It will be difficult to uproot him.
“Aside from his many projects scattered throughout the state, he has touched people’s lives directly. Such people will always be behind him,” he said.
He described Wike as a politician that could identify with every good cause irrespective of political party.
“Once the cause is good and will give him a platform to serve his people, Wike will be part of it,” Okocha said.
(NAN)
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