The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Rivers State, Dr Tony Okocha, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom 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,” Okocha explained while refuting the claims that the former Governor had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Okocha said that Wike has not left PDP and will never do so.
He also stated that the 27 Rivers lawmakers currently in a bitter political struggle with the incumbent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, have not dumped PDP for 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,” Okocha stated.
Okocha stressed that Wike, despite his alliance with the Renewed Hope Agenda, 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.
Speaking on Wike’s influence on Rivers’ politics, Okocha said: “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.”
“Once the cause is good and will give him a platform to serve his people, Wike will be part of it,” Okocha added.
By @NaijaNews
