In recent discussions about the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, the head of the Caretaker Committee, took to a live radio program in Port Harcourt to clear the air on certain misconceptions. There have been claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had secretly handed over control of the APC structure to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory. However, Okocha vehemently rejected these assertions, terming them as an untruthful narrative.
During the radio program on Monday, Okocha, a former Chief of Staff at the Government House and a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refuted the idea that Wike, despite aligning with him, had any intention of abandoning the party he played a pivotal role in nurturing.
“Wike is not an APC member; he is a devoted founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He has repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the PDP and has no rush to abandon the party. If there were any changes, Wike is not the type to keep it quiet; Nigerians would be informed,” Okocha emphasized.
Okocha clarified that his alignment with Wike did not imply any move to shift the APC structure to the PDP. He dismissed the notion that the President would hand over the party to a member of the opposing party, highlighting that such an assumption misses the point entirely.
As the representative of Rivers State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Okocha also took the opportunity to commend the national leadership of the APC. He expressed his satisfaction with the wisdom demonstrated in assembling individuals with extensive experience in party politics.
“I am not alone in the business. Like I assured the national chairman, I don’t know how it happened. Still, I commended their wisdom in assembling eggheads and people who have been in party politics for a long time, builders, worried people, people who are agitated, and people who want the party, APC, to grow from strength to strength. That is what they assembled, and fortunately, I am the chairman of that group. I think with the experience we have garnered over time, we will put all of these together; put them in one straight jacket and the party will move,” Okocha stated.
His commendation of the national leadership focused on their choice of individuals committed to the growth and strength of the APC. Okocha’s confidence in the gathered expertise suggests a positive outlook for the party in Rivers State. As discussions continue about political alignments and party structures, Chief Tony Okocha’s clarifications offer insights into the dynamics at play and emphasize the need for accurate information in understanding regional political developments.
