Success Nwanedo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has said that the party is open to receive Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike if he decides to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Okocha made the declaration on Monday in a press conference in Port Harcourt.
According to him, Wike was one of those who helped Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emerge President-elect in the February 25th presidential election.
He said, “Today, Governor Wike is one of those who is helping in the enthronement of our president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If Governor Wike wants to come to the All Progressives Congress, we will welcome him. But one thing is clear, I don’t think Nigeria wants to be a one-party country.”
The APC chieftain, who denied being an apologist of the Rivers State governor, described Wike as the best in physical infrastructure development in the history of the state.
Okocha said, “I am not an apologist of Governor Wike, but on physical infrastructure development in Rivers State, Governor Wike is the best.”
He further faulted claims by the APC governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole, that Tinubu’s visit to the state was on the invitation of the state governor, noting that he (Cole) did not make any financial contributions towards the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state.
“Cole said the visit of Tinubu was a private visit to Wike. He was just blabbing. He is a blatant liar. Tinubu was here on a two-day working visit. Wike never had a wedding party or birthday. It was a state government function.
“I make bold to say that Cole refused to fund that campaign of Tinubu in Rivers State. He refused to release funds.”