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By Joel Anekwe
The deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Chief Akpo Bomba on Monday announced his resignation from the party and defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This action has introduced yet another twist to the seeming unending governorship election tussle in Rivers State even as the state still awaits the conclusion of the governorship poll which was suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and for which a timeline was just recently fixed
In a move that took the entire state by surprise, Bomba announced his resignation through a letter addressed to his boss, the AAC governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, saying his decisions were informed by the complete hijack of the structure and administration of the AAC by the minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The resignation letter reads in part: “I write to most respectfully notify you of my resignation from the membership of the African Action Alliance (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,” Bomba said.
He went further to accuse the Amaechi led-faction of the APC of stubborn 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,” Bomba added.
Speaking while receiving the former AAC deputy governorship candidate, state governor, Nyesom Wike declared that no one man’s interest is bigger than the state, adding that all leaders must work together to move Rivers State forward.
He observed that history would be kind to the former AAC deputy governorship candidate for placing Rivers interest above personal consideration.
“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,” the governor stated, adding that “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,” he said.
The governor said all leaders of Rivers State irrespective of their political affiliations must work in unity to develop the state. He said: “All of us must work together in order to forge ahead. No one man’s interest is bigger than that of the state.”
He welcomed the deputy governorship candidate into the PDP, noting that he will be part of the group to consolidate the development of the state.
“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,” he said.
Governor Wike thanked the former AAC deputy governorship candidate for refusing to allow himself to be a tool for the destabilisation of the state.
PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus described the defection as a welcome development, which will help Rivers State move forward.
He said: “This is a welcome development. This is what a normal situation is supposed to be. The people will see the reason why we must work together. This is an uncommon decision. You have taken a wise decision because you have the interest of the people at heart.”
Secondus called on INEC to bring the Rivers election to a logical conclusion, so that the people can continue with their lives.
He called on the minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and other persons working with him to see reason why they should stop destabilising the state and causing confusion.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi or that of the Rivers APC yielded no result as calls and text messages sent to the minister’s media aide David Iyofo and the Rivers APC spokesman were not replied as at the time of filing this report.
