Wike Getting Appointed As Minister ‘Disappointing’, ‘Shocking’ , Tonye Cole, Other Rivers APC Bigwigs Tell Ganduje

Mr. Tonye Cole, who was the APC guber candidate in the governorship election held in Rivers state on March  18 , 2023, has  disclosed that  members of the party in the state were  shocked when President Bola Tinubu appointed former Governor Nyesom Wike and some card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party to government positions.

While submitting that it would be wrong  to leave loyal party supporters unattended to , Cole stated readiness for reconciliation  with the proviso that  loyal party members are also considered for government positions.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the co-founder of Sahara Group said this  when he led a delegation of Rivers APC chieftains on a  visit to the  National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje at the APC national  secretariat, Abuja on Tuesday.

Talking to journalists, Cole, who lamented that the state chapter of the party lost innumerable members and properties to political violence after the last general election, added that they are ready to work with the new APC leadership with regard to reconciliation.

‘We can only urge the President and leader of our great party to do more for God’s glory and the APC’s good. This includes appointing our sons and daughters to key positions and other forms of empowerment of our members to cater for our faithful supporters who despite the human and material losses they have encountered remain longstanding in faith with the APC.

The scale of violence and all sorts of ambushes we suffered were scary, but they didn’t stop us. Not only were our gubernatorial flag bearer and other candidates not allowed to get materials from INEC to file their petitions at the Tribunals after the elections on February 25 and March 18, 2023, our party also withdrew as a petitioner soon after we completed the filing process. That has never happened in the history of Nigeria’s major political parties. The party that sponsored our candidates pulled the rug beneath their feet when the party was needed the most.

If the event described above shocked us a little, what happened next was card-carrying PDP members of Rivers state got appointments in our APC- Federal Government left us completely confused and very upset. Those being rewarded are PDP members who spent huge state resources trying to destroy APC in Rivers state since 2013 and failed, primarily because these loyal APC members here resisted them fiercely.

Your Excellency would be shocked that as we address you in this meeting, the Rivers state Chapter of the APC has no representation at any level of governance in our country. There isn’t a single Rivers APC member appointed at any level of the Federal, State or Local Government’ he said.

Ganduje  has however assured  Tonye and others  that the ruling party would look into their request and inform the president for urgent consideration.

‘I believe we have taken the right way to rebuild APC in Rivers state; the party that we know its history. So, we assure you the founding members of APC in the state. We know how much you suffer. We cannot allow your suffering to wither away like that. We will do our best to protect you. Compensation in politics is very important. We are taking this up for consideration. And I assure you. We have your leadership. The gubernatorial candidate is here. The party chairman and other caliber of members are also here.

But I think with this your determination to rebuild the party, we urge you to create an even environment to keep your doors open so that those who left the party, no matter how big they are in another party where they went for sabbatical leave, can come back to their original base’ he noted-Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you