The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied claims that Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, influences the arty’s decisions in Rivers State.
Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of Rivers APC caretaker committee, disclosed that Wike is neither a member of the APC nor attends any party meetings.
He said this while addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Okocha stated that despite efforts to woo Wike to the party, they are convinced he will remain a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He noted that Wike’s influence is due to his position as a minister under the APC government, but he does not participate in APC activities.
He said: “When I hear this, I laugh because Wike is a member of PDP, unrepentant PDP. We are APC here. Will anybody suggest that because Mr Wike is a minister under our government of APC, we should be at dagger with him?
“Wike doesn’t attend our meeting. I have briefed you here. We have held meetings with stakeholders, but Wike was never there. So at what point does he influence APC in Rivers State? His influence, as much as you know, is because he is a minister under an APC government. So we can’t be in enmity with him. But to say that he influences us, how? Does he pay our bills or attend our meetings? The answer is no.”
Okocha also addressed the status of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who contested the presidential primary election against President Bola Tinubu in 2022.
He said, “On the issue of Ameachi, I have no question to answer. I was Chief of Staff to Rotimi Amaechi. Recall that at one point, he got into law school and from that one year became incommunicado. You are also aware that after the presidential primary election, he disappeared into thin air.
“So on whether he is still a party member or not, I wouldn’t know because in all the meetings we called, he didn’t show up. Let me give you an example of a meeting we called for all former governors and ministers, he (Amaechi) sent a message to the secretary of the party and warned him to never dare send him a message about the party again.
“So when you meet him, ask him where he belongs. As for me, I don’t know where he belongs.”