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By Joel Anekwe, Port Harcourt
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC has promised to conduct free and fair primaries ahead the 2019 general elections, as it clarified that that the two events that took place in Rivers State last Saturday involving two of the party’s bigwigs in the state, were organised for two different purposes, and not a sign of crack in the party.
The statement come on the heels of the advice from the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who suggested that for two events, of such importance to the party, to have been held on a seeming parallel nature to each other, was an indication of a crack in the APC structure in the state.
Sen. Saraki who spoke at the thanksgiving ceremony of the senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Magnus Abe and some other party elected members at the House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly, urged the Rivers APC to seek reconciliation in order to strengthen the party towards the 2019 general elections.
But the APC while reacting to the Senate President’s statement on Monday described it as “some misguided insinuations in some quarters about a crack in the party” and reiterated that the party “is united, cohesive and ever ready to play its expected pivotal role in reshaping the politics of Nigeria come 2019 not minding some obstacles being posed on her way by some detractors”.
“Let us reassure Nigerians and the international community that we will provide adequate space for all aspirants who want to fly our flag without any discrimination as we are one virile, vibrant and united family”, the Rivers APC said in a statement it issued on Monday in Port Harcourt.
It added that people were allowed to aspire to any leadership position in APC without any fear or inhibition saying; “at the appropriate time when the national leadership of the party clears the processes for primaries, we will organise a very free and fair primaries that will embarrass enemies of the party thereby making the innuendo aimed at blackmailing the leadership of the party in the state unnecessary as we are capable and ready to do the needful at the appropriate time”.
The party clarified that on the two events while that in Port Harcourt was to entertain friends of the party, secondly to pave way for some PDP bigwigs who are looking for soft-landing to join the party and save their necks knowing the woes that awaits them come 2019 and lastly was principally organised to thank God for the victories he granted the party during the last rerun elections in the state against all odds including the killings of most of our members.
It added that on the other hand, the event in Bori the headquarters of the Ogoni land was held in continuation of the rebuilding and strengthening of the party ahead of 2019 general elections and principally to receive thousands of PDP members that defected to APC.
“These clarifications become imperative to stop further disparaging of the party leadership and misinformation being peddled by some mischievous elements aimed at destabilising the party”, stated, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Media Consultant to Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the state chairman of Rivers APC.
The statement further appreciated some of the party’s faithful and friends that attended both events at Bori the Headquarters of the Ogoni Land and Port Harcourt the State capital of Rivers State and commended them for their positive comments
“We don’t have any crack in the party as erroneously stated by some of the visitors and that the party delegates will elect a creditable and capable candidate that will fly the flag of the party in the gubernatorial election of 2019 and not any of the party’s friend. In short, the party is now more re-positioned to achieve her aim for 2019 general elections which is mainly to root out the current evil administration in the state under the watch of Chief Nyesom Wike”, the party declared.
The party reiterated that no matter the challenges and misinformation being peddled by some of those that wish the party evil, “we will not be intimidated or influenced not to ensure power change come 2019 in the State. We know the current strategy of Governor Nyesom Wike which is aimed at weakening and destabilising the party to enable him have an easy ride to the Brick House but we will like to reassure him that his plots have failed even before it was hatched. The party’s current move to free the state from the shackles of misguided administration and rotates power from upland to the riverine area of the state is a task that must be achieved no matter the odds.
