Wike Not Our Member, Doesn’t Attend Party Meetings – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed claims on Tuesday that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, influences decisions made by the party’s Rivers State chapter.

The party clarified that the former Rivers governor is neither a member of the APC nor participates in any of their political meetings.

Addressing journalists at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Rivers APC caretaker committee, stated that despite efforts to recruit Wike, the FCT minister remains a steadfast member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“When I hear this, I laugh because Wike is a member of PDP, unrepentant PDP. We are APC here. Will anybody suggest that because Mr Wike is a minister under our government of APC, we should be at dagger with him?” Okocha said.

“Wike doesn’t attend our meetings. I have briefed you here. We have held meetings with stakeholders, but Wike was never there. So at what point does he influence APC in Rivers State? His influence, as much as you know, is because he is a minister under an APC government. So we can’t be in enmity with him. But to say that he influences us, how? Does he pay our bills or attend our meetings? The answer is no.”

Okocha also addressed the status of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, within the party. Amaechi has distanced himself from party activities, warning the state party secretary not to invite him to any meetings.

“On the issue of Amaechi, I have no question to answer. I was Chief of Staff to Rotimi Amaechi. Recall that at one point, he got into law school and from that one year became incommunicado. You are also aware that after the presidential primary election, he disappeared into thin air.

“So on whether he is still a party member or not, I wouldn’t know because in all the meetings we called, he didn’t show up. Let me give you an example of a meeting we called for all former governors and ministers, he (Amaechi) sent a message to the secretary of the party and warned him to never dare send him a message about the party again.

“So when you meet him, ask him where he belongs. As for me, I don’t know where he belongs,” Okocha explained.