The uneasy calm that enveloped Rivers State following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release timeline for the conclusion of the suspended Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, was interrupted on Monday, March 25, 2019.
The interruption followed the decision of the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the state, Akpo Bomba Yeeh, to withdraw from the 2019 governorship election. He has since defected from the party.
Yeeh, in a letter dated March 25, 2019 and addressed to the AAC governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Festus Awara, also announced that he would join the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of allegedly hijacking the political structure of ACC in the state, alleging that APC is not letting in its determination to subvert the will of the people of the state and cause crisis in the state using the AAC platform.
The letter reads in part: “I write to most respectfully notify you of my resignation from the membership of the African Action Congress (AAC) with effect from today, 25th March 2019 and subsequent defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Please note also that by this notice, I cease to be the Deputy Governorship candidate of our party, the AAC, for the 2019 Governorship Election in Rivers State.
“My decisions were informed by the complete hijack of the structure and administration of our party by a faction of the APC in Rivers State led by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for his personal political ambition.
“Furthermore, the Rotimi Amaechi led faction of the APC is not letting in its determination to subvert the will of Rivers people and cause crisis in the State using the platform of our promising Party.
“In the circumstance, I cannot in all conscience continue to lend support to the selfish political venture of the Minister of Transportation, which does not mean well for the progress and development of the people of Rivers State.
“As a budding and promising politician, I also appeal to you to accept the reality of your crushing defeat and liberate yourself from being used by Rotimi Amaechi to cause unnecessary political crisis in our dear State. Thank you very much and please accept the assurances of my highest regards as always.”
But, in his response, the AAC governorship candidate in the state, Biokpomabo Festus Awara, expressed shock at the letter, alleging Yeeh could had been bought over by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, despite his appeals to him not to succumb to financial inducements.
According to Awara, Wike’s decision to buy-over his running mate, Akpo Bomba Yeeh, was to smear the image and figure of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
He said: “On the issue of the resignation and defection of my running mate, let me state that: I have not received any letter of resignation and defection from my running mate Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh.
“When the story of his resignation first came out as rumour that Rivers State Governor have offered him 200m naira to abandon me, I had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had earlier turned down an offer of N3b, Governor Wike offered to me some days ago through his associates.
“I discussed this with my running mate and outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.
“When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to reach my deputy without success. I started developing some strange feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him.
“I am aware that a key component of their plot is to attempt to smear the towering image and figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“I want to state categorically that all the accusations made by my running mate against the Honourable Minister are blatant lies poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and associates, and you could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him.
“Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh is believed to be under tremendous financial pressure base on his statements.
“The support the AAC got from the Honourable Minister and the APC was unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement drafted for him by Governor Wike are false, crude lies.
“The alliance between AAC and APC for the governorship election is as a result of our shared love for the State and our shared vision to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of cultism, rapidly growing poverty and the unsafe nature of our State in the hands of an administration that has wrecked almost everything in our State.
“It is indeed sad, regrettable, disheartening and pathetic that my running mate will act in the way he did. I feel pity and sorry for him. However, I must be quick to add that it is one move that has no consequences on the AAC governorship ticket. It is inconsequential in all ramifications. No sane man standing an election as crucial as that of Rivers State will say the things he said.
“Rivers people have firmly taken the position that the outgoing Governor Wike can no longer lead them. The antics of Wike in using State resources, our collective wealth to attempt to buy everyone and buy him a second term in office will certainly fail.
“The so-called defection of my deputy is a ploy to distract us. We will not be distracted. We remain focused on liberating Rivers people, our people from the inept, cruel and clueless administration currently running the State aground.”
To Wike, history will be kind to the former AAC deputy governorship candidate, for placing Rivers’ interest above personal consideration.
The governor, who spoke when Yeeh paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, declared that no man’s interest is bigger than the state’s, declaring that all leaders must work together to move Rivers State forward.
He said: “History will be on your side. You have shown that the interest of the state is above personal consideration. God will not only protect you, He will reward you for this decision.
“Rivers State is the only state we have. Everyone must work together to move this state forward. It is important to take this state to greater heights.
“It is not everyone that can take this kind of decision. It requires maturity to take this kind of decision “.
Wike, who stated that all leaders of Rivers State irrespective of their political affiliations must work in unity to develop the state, said: “All of us must work together in order to forge ahead. No one man’s interest is bigger than that of the state”.
The governor welcomed the former AAC deputy governorship candidate into PDP, noting that he will be part of the group to consolidate the development of the state.
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He said: “You are welcome to the party that will move the state forward. Those on the other side must understand that you cannot kill people, just to be in power. With this bold decision, our brothers on the other side know that the end has come.”
To the APC, the political party which endorsed the choice of the AAC governorship candidate, following judgements of the Court that disallowed it from fielding candidates in the 2019 general elections in the state, said neither the party leadership nor the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi met with the former AAC deputy governorship candidate as he alleged.
The APC, in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Tonye Cole Campaign Organization, Ogbonna Nwuke, said Yeeh’s view has been skewed by wads of dollars doled out by Wike.
The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, Chief Akpor Yeeh who is purported to have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Ordinarily, we will not as a responsible party or group respond to the vituperations of the said deputy governorship candidate. We are however forced to spare a few comments because of the inordinate references made to the Minister of Transportation by a man whose view has been skewed by wads of dollars doled out by the PDP candidate in the suspended Rivers gubernatorial elections, Governor Nyesom Wike.
“It is pertinent to note that neither the APC nor the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has in any way interfered with the internal organization of the African Action Congress, AAC.
“We are aware that Chief Yeeh whose appetite for sudden wealth has overtaken reason is not the author of the script that he read on camera. Accordingly, we sympathize with Chief Yeeh, a self-avowed young politician, whose hunt for a meal ticket has led him to mortgage his conscience for mess of porridge.
“It is indeed laughable that the crafted statement delivered claims that the Minister of Transportation had insisted that he would appoint 90% of the commissioners, 23 LGA council chairman in an undated resignation address served to the public.
“We are not shocked by the lies that Chief Yeeh has served the public in order to put food on his table. It is consistent with the propaganda slant of the PDP used to deceive the people and deflect the attention of the Nigerian people from the fact that they lost horribly in the field because of the resolve of the
Rivers people to effect a change.
“As we speak, Governor Wike and the PDP are determined to steal the people’s mandate through unparalleled bribery of INEC and other institutions. Institutions that the PDP have been unable to bribe are understandably at the apex of their criticism. These institutions include the Nigeria Army, SARS and the APC.
“Accordingly, we are at a loss to understand how a coalition between the APC and the AAC could be interpreted to mean an attempt to cause crisis in Rivers State. The interest of Rivers State far outstrips the interest of an individual.
“It is obvious that what is critical at this time is the quest to deliver unto the people a government that is transparent, accountable, responsible, focused and committed to their welfare.
“We wish to state unequivocally that political parties in this country and elsewhere in the world enjoy the right to enter into coalitions with any party of their choice for the purpose of forming a government of state or national unity which would deliver dividends of democracy and serve the overall interest of the people.
“On the road to the presidential elections, many political parties threw their lot behind the APC and the PDP. It is perhaps, possible that Chief Yeeh and those who are behind beating the drum are unaware of this development.
“Barely two weeks to the gubernatorial elections, the backing that the African Action Congress has received from the Rivers people, following the resolve of the APC and its membership to join the rescue mission, has forced those who thought that using every means to disqualify viable candidates would give them an easy ride to power.
“We can understand the desperation which has led the PDP and its leadership to take out their frustration on the Minister of Transportation.
We emphasize that the Minister of Transportation had no hand in the choice of the APC to support the African Action Congress. That decision was taken by the leadership as well as all the candidates of the APC.
“Chief Yeeh would have investigated the circumstances that led to the support that his party received in the run off to the election and the visibility that he now appears to enjoy before appending his name to a piece of rubbish crafted by deviants who think that power belongs to them.
“Actual power belongs to the people of Rivers State. All that the Minister has is one vote. Those other votes which have threatened the power base of Governor Nyesom Wike and made him restless, have been cast by the people who have grown tired of a rascally administration and a NEW vision that is skewed.
“It is however important to observe that Chief Yeeh’s name is already on the ballot. The sponsors of the malicious publication targeted against the Minister of Transportation against the backdrop of the defection of an unserious and hungry politician should take copious note of the decision of INEC to refuse the exit from the presidential race of Dr Oby Okwesilieze.
“Dr. Okwesilieze, it is on record, had opted out of the election few weeks before it was to hold. INEC held on that occasion that her name was firmly on the ballot the same way Chief Yeeh who has gone through an election is at the moment.
“INEC has set a precedent that it cannot run away from except excess money which appears to sway opinion among staff of the commission in Rivers State would do its worse.”
While the drama continues, the people of the state and Nigerians in general, are awaiting the conclusion of the governorship election in the state.
The outcome of the poll will not only determine the political strength of the gladiators, it will also signal the individuals and the political party that will be in control of the state for the next four years.
