Nima Adiobu, the state youth leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has said that the only recognized state secretariat of the party is the one at No 173 Aba Road, Catholic Mission House Estate, by waterlines, Port Harcourt.
In an interview with TPCN reporters, Lorine Emenike and Gladys Nweke, the State Youth Leader of the party said that the APC state Congresses that held on the 5th of May was cancelled because some group of party faithful who had paid for forms were denied forms.
“These aggrieved group of persons went to court to seek for and obtained an injunction to stop the state Congresses proceedings which were granted them. And the court voided the May state Congress.
“The Minister of transport Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the state APC took the matter to appeal court to seek for a stay of execution of that congress. But the appeal court, in turn, referred the matter back to be handled by Rivers State high court.
“Neglecting the court injunction order, the minister’s-led faction of the APC, went ahead to conduct congresses on the 19th, 20th and 21st of May of which the state high court also cancelled and declared void.
“Following these occurrences, the National Executive Council (NEC), the highest national governing body of the All Progressive Congress, reached a resolution, that the old status quo (old EXCO), should remain for twelve months until when the state can conduct a credible, free and fair congress in the state.
“Beside the NEC resolution, the former chairman, chief John Oyegun, before he left office had set up a technical committee which in their report, relied on the NEC resolution, which says that the old EXCOS should remain for twelve months. This document was signed by Oyegun, and that makes the document a legal document and the party is abiding by that.
The Prince Odike’s-led exco will continue
“The Prince Peter Odike (JP) led exco shall continue; APC is one in Nigeria led by Chief Oyegun who set up the technical committee. Rivers State APC is a chapter. So the old excos are continuing so that they can do their business, meeting people, strengthening the party and building the party towards winning the election. So the only party secretariat in the state is the one by waterlines.
Hon. Agiobu said that Ojukaye Flag-Amachree spearheaded the hoodlums who destroyed and catered away properties at the APC state secretariat by waterlines.
He said: “Following the interview, Ojukaye F. Amachree granted Neighborhood newspaper, a local tabloid, in which he threatened to bring down the party secretariat, exactly two days after he had made real his threats.
“Hoodlums who came in five buses and two Hilux vans forced their way into the party secretariat and brought down the flags and destroyed them. They also destroyed the picture of the president, Muhammadu Buhari and the picture of the parties national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and the picture of the state acting party chairman, Prince Peter Odike(JP). We later had to fix up some things for the secretariat opening ceremony. So, since Ojukaye granted an interview and threatened, the police should question and investigate him.
On free and fair general elections
“Concerning a peaceful conduct in the forthcoming general election, peace and violence lie in man. A man can choose to be violent or choose to be peaceful. Considering the peaceful conduct of the recently concluded election in both Ekiti State and Kogi state, Rivers State is not an isolated state. I am optimistic that the 2019 election will be violence free.
Violence cannot be part of any decent society because it doesn’t solve anything.
“What happened in the last bye-election in PHALGA constituency 3 is not something any decent person should applaud. I condemn it in totality. To me, it is a bankruptcy of social order. Above all, we are all Rivers People. The parties should work together since violence dies not benefit anybody at the end of the day.
“Why should we get involved in violence when the people affected are Rivers people, the properties that will be destroyed are Rivers properties. So to me, it is utterly stupid and senseless to engage in election violence. Yesterday’s implacable enemies will be today’s best friends.
“So, I am advising politicians to create friendship and relationships. They should see politics as a game, if you lose, be a sportsman by offering a hand of fellowship to the other man, that’s what they do in a civilized country. Bringing thugs to shoot themselves and forcing yourself into power is not what any decent society should condone”.
Hon. Agiobu also advised the entire Rivers people to ensure they obtain their PVCs, adding that at the end of the day, let the votes of the people determine who will serve them.
