APC officials in Rivers State say Wike will not be welcome as he terrorised them for eight years

MEMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have expressed concern over rumours that former governor Nyesom Wike may be leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joining them soon saying he brutalised them for eight years.

Governor Wike was one of five PDP governors who refused to accept the candidature of the party's presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Their argument was that Alhaji Abubakar was a northerner and his candidature was a negation of the north-south rotational gentleman's agreement.

As a result, Governor Wike backed the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who subsequently went on to win the elections. Since President Tinubu was sworn-in on May 29, there have been rumours that Governor Wike will not only join the APC but will also be appointed as a cabinet minister.

Over the last few weeks, Governor Wike and some of his loyalists have been accused of lobbying for ministerial positions in Tinubu’s government. Governor Wike himself also confirmed that he is ready to serve if appointed into a ministerial position by President Tinubu.

However, the Rivers State chapter of the APC has accused the immediate past governor of terrorizing it for the last eight years. Darlington Nwauju, the publicity secretary of the party in the state said  Governor Wike cannot join the APC due to the terror he unleashed on the party over the last eight years.

Mr Nwauju said:  “The terror unleashed on our party members in the cause of his eight years of maximum rulership alone is enough evidence to confirm that Wike has no business with Rivers State APC. Asking him to come and take over is asking an enemy to come and finish off his victims.

“We are aware of his schemes to escape justice over the looting of the collective patrimony of Rivers people which is the major reason for his romancing top APC members. For those who may be suffering from amnesia, a non-APC member cannot be a cheerleader for the entry of Wike into APC.”

Last week, Chief Tony Okocha, an APC leader in Rivers State, said the party is prepared to receive Governor Nyesom Wike any moment from now. Chief Okocha, a former chief of staff in the Rivers State Government House, said the former governor has the right to join any party of his choice.