•Emeka Beke
The dissolved faction of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, loyal to former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has denied defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Similarly, the faction, led by chairman of the dissolved executive in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, dismissed claims that it was working with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reports The PUNCH.
Chief Beke, an ally of the former Transport Minister, made the denial at a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Beke spoke against the backdrop of a viral video which showed him hugging and smiling with Wike at an event in Port Harcourt last Saturday, sparking speculations that he may have dumped Amaechi.
The embattled factional chairman however said there was neither any alignment with Wike nor defection to the PDP, pointing out that the event he attended was the 60th birthday of a member of a club which he is also a member.
He explained that it was at the event he saw Wike and many others, saying while exchanging pleasantries with some of his friends, they pleaded with him to say hello to the FCT Minister, but that he refused.
He averred, “First there is no alignment whatsoever. Isobo Jack, chairman, Rivers State Taskforce on Sanitation, who happens to be the President of the Boys Company of Nigeria, which I’m a founding member, celebrated his 60th birthday and he invited us.
“I was coming from Okrika, where I went for a funeral. And there was time frame for the party, 6pm to 8pm. When I walked into the hall at about 6pm, I saw a group of people; I saw the minister, Wike, and a few other persons.
“I shook hands with a few of them and some of them said ‘say hi to the Honourable Minister.’ I said no, there was no need. You know we don’t flow at all, at the end of the day, because I want to be a gentleman, I started shaking everybody.
“When I got to the honourable minister, we started yabbing – playful insults – and all that. You know, I noticed this will arise, I said to him, ‘now I’m talking to you, tomorrow morning, pictures will trend.’
“And I said it clearly to Chief Emma Anyanwu, a PDP chieftain in the state, that ‘look I’m a member of Rotimi Amaechi political family and I remain firm with Rotimi Amaechi’.”
He further said that as a civilized individual, whenever he gets to an environment where there are people who have attained some positions, courtesy demands that he socializes, rather than quarrel with them or walk away, which was exactly what he did.
He added, “For me, I still remain where I belong in politics. Wike is never an option for me at all in politics. I can’t work with him because we don’t have the same style and I have my integrity to protect.
“I don’t have any affiliation with him and I didn’t go there for any political meeting.”
Earlier, Publicity Secretary of the dissolved APC in the state, Darlington Uwauju, urged members of the pubic to disregard the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC Caretaker Committee in the state.
Faulting the dissolution of Chief Beke-led state APC executive by the party’s national leadership, Uwauju said their tenure still subsists.
He stated, “If you look at Article 17 of our party, it talks about the tenure of office and the tenureship is for four years. So, our tenure will be ending sometime in October of 2025, because congresses were held on the 16th of October 2021.
“You are all aware of the fact that on the 22nd day of November 2023, there was an announcement by the National Publicity Secretary of our party announcing dissolution of all layers; that is the ward executive, the local government and the state.”
Uwauju insisted that the law does not permit the National Working Committee of the APC to dissolve an elected executive as done by the Abdullahi Ganduje-led national executive.
