RIVERS APC: THE JINX-BREAKING VICTORY AND THE NEW DAWN

 

Good Morning and Happy New month dear compatriots.

I feel unfathomably elated to congratulate All of us on the ceaseless fervent prayers and exertions in many respects and stretches. 

Should I begin by harping on your steadfastness and resolve in deft support of the Presidential Ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State. ~ a course we all pursued to the logical conclusion, despite deterring hiccups, persecutions, denigrations, curses and abuses from those opposed to our lofty dream.

Our vehement resolve not to quit, vault~face nor be weary, culminated in the jinx~breaking victory of our Principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (as he then was), now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State.

Recall that it was apparently a tall dream ab initio.

Frustrations in different facets and degrees, almost threw us under the box.

The intractable Factionalisation of the APC Rivers and the rejection of Tinubu in the State was a deft blow on our shared aspiration.

Further still, was the pulling away of a potent force in our own faction of Rivers APC to the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State.

This unbargained decimation of our Party and hitherto strong camp that trumpeted support for Asiwaju Tinubu, at an inauspicious time, heralded more seemingly insurmountable frustrations, as we wallowed in limbo and labyrinth of confusion.

Albeit, we refused to allow our already effervescent zest to be dampened. 

Our voices, instead of getting drowned, became positively monotonous in the streets of Towns, settlements, hamlets, communities and villages of Rivers State, sermonising support for our Principal.

The Traditional and New media as News outlets, were profusely inundated with the endearing qualities of our Principal and persuasion on the sensibilities and reasonableness of Rivers People, particularly the voting mass.

We agreed to helming into alliances with individuals, groups, etc, especially those that were relevant to the course we pursued.

Without Funds from anywhere, but individuals personal sacrifices, we refused the lures and luckres from different angels, meant to derail us.

Not even the abuses and insults hauled on us as minute few, supporting the one the cynics and haters, perceived as ‘Too Old’ and not Ambulant. 

One with retarded memories, only good and reputable for gaffes. 

To evidence these negatives, our traducers, regrettably, the mass of which, were APC Members in Rivers, studiously designed our Principal on ‘Adult Pampers’ and put on medical stretcher as one at the exit door. 

For these and many more which inhibited by Time and Space, I cannot encapsulate here, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to you for religiously following to the end.

Against the backdrop of stirring uncertainties, you all acquiesced to committing more valuable time and resources for the effectuation and effectivisation of the Tinubu Project.

It was easy, driven by shared aspirations, for 48 Tinubu/Shettima Support groups that operated in Rivers State, to tag along in one. In that circumstantial marriage, leadership was Never a problem.

Who gets What? 

When?

How and Why? were Never bothered with.

This is maturity and deep sense of purpose.

MINISTERIAL NOMINATION FOR RIVERS STATE:

As typical of human nature, it wasn’t surprising that this subject became thorny. “Food was now Ready”. Those who poured water on the firewood so that the cooking pot never got the required heat to steam the ingredients, emerged with so much force and wanting to take the head of the botty.

The other group that dropped off the race when needed mostly, claimed family relationships with the Principal.

Arguments for justification of who qualifies, were staged back and forth.

We refused to be perturbed because the Justice of the matter, was with us. You all agreed and challenged ourselves, to respect the immutable and apodethic prescription of Natural Law which is also consistent with Religious precept, namely : “That it is an anathema for any to reap from where the one did not sow”.

“A labourer is deserving of his /her wages”.

We spoke up and exerted audibly, for the Ministerial Slot to Rivers State, should be franchised to HE, Chief E. N. Wike (immediate past Governor of Rivers State).

Our decision was not borne out of pecuniary interest, but soothing to Good Conscience and good Political Mathematics.

We didn’t mince words in conveying this resolve to the Appointor, President Tinubu and to Nigerian public.

We were called names like blackmailers. Hirelings of our nominee. Calumnous group, etc.

But, far from those allegations.

We were modest and truthful to ourselves. 

The unimpeachable truth is the fact that without HE, Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and his PDP family in Rivers State, who agreed and worked in alliance with us, the then crumbs in APC Rivers, it would have been impossible for a Tinubu /APC victory in Rivers State.

Not to continue to bore readers with the myriad issues of political history of Rivers State, vis a vis, the PDP exploits since 1999, as captured over and over again, the Truth is that it would have been worse scenario, compared to the cases in 2015 and 2019, after a faction of the APC Rivers patently declared and directed there adherents, to vote for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and a chunk of our own faction, swayed to the SDP and then lacked the political imperative to vote for Tinubu, since the Party SDP, equally presented a Presidential Candidate. 

So for us, the first reason that we clamoured for Former Governor Wike, now of the PDP extraction, amidst very many qualified APC Rivers stalwart, who worked assiduously for PBAT victory, take the first shot, was purely on Conscience and Good Reward mechanism. 

Society rewards Results not Events. 

I shall discuss the second salient reason whilst on the subject matter, APC Rivers. 

By doing so, we were bruised as undeserving folks, who wanted the Food with unwashed hands, took to character assassination. 

They red herred. 

Relied on “ad hominem” and blatant lies. 

We remained undistracted. 

How do I thank you enough?

APC RIVERS:

APC Rivers is in dire strait. This fact is known to even babies and sucklings. 

Things went awry in APC Rivers after the 2015 General Election in which the Party then in power in Rivers State, lost spectacularly to the PDP. 

As a founding member of the APC Rivers, serving then as the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi (as he then was), it is a truism that I was at the epicentre of our porting away from the PDP to the New Political order in Nigeria, APC, then. 

Our new Party started robostly and like the zest found in newer orders, it was a Party to beat in Rivers State. 

But alas, leadership ineptitude, highhandness, self~centredness, became our albatross. 

Party got so reduced to the point of a Social Club. 

At some point, we couldn’t present Candidates for election or where we did, they lost so abysmally. 

This is the undisputable Truth in APC Rivers today. 

So, the second reason why we clamoured for the Nomination of HE E.N. Wike for the ministerial slot of Rivers State, followed also our demand on him to join our Party, APC, so that he can help us out of our Political doldrums. 

No doubt, Wike is the most popular Politician today in Rivers State. 

He commands the respect and following of the prolific Political entities in the length and breadth of the Rivers State. 

His appointment into the Federal Cabinet led by APC, may be another veritable bait to win him over and ipso facto, change the sordid trajectory of the APC Rivers. 

APPRECIATIONS:

We lack clear and apt dictions to convey our gratitude to PBAT for among other considerations, listening to our germane request for the appointment of this icon, Living political legend and unparalleled achiever, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, GSSRS, of Rivers State, into the Federal Cabinet. 

President Tinubu, by so doing, has further rekindled our hope in him as a Good rewarder of results and Great Talent hunter. 

It is his prerogative to assign ministries and responsibilities to his Appointees but we with the greatest respect, offer HE E.N.Wike for any area of most interest in the PBAT Renewed Hope philosophy. He will acquit himself just as the many other times he had stints with Governance. 

Permit me to also appreciate the Nigerian public who read us back to back, as we exerted on the matter that almost sounded like the monotonous rhythm of the Paternoster. 

CONGRATULATIONS:

We have congratulated in different ways and expressions, HE E.N.Wike on his consideration for a position in the soon to be inaugurated Federal Cabinet. 

We implore him to export those prodigies that set him out both as Mr Quality Project and the Infrastructure delivery scion of Nigeria. 

We trust that the confidence he exudes in penchant for results, remain scintillating whilst in the Government of Renewed Hope mantra. 

 APOLOGIES:

I state my heart-felt apologies to Any who feel undone by our approach(es) in our desperate bids to stating the Truths.

No deliberate intention to malign anyone in whatsoever and howsoever guise. 

Trust us with the conviction that we could speak the truth without minding a million hoots, whose ox is gored! 

Any will surely benefit from this necessary bluntness someday soon. 

Truth is Ageless. 

It is no respecter of persons. 

It is immutable. 

The opposite is Falsehood. 

We are family. Let us continue to tolerate one another.

CONCLUSION:

To you my compatriots, we have no other option but to support and keep faith with the system.

A leader is only as popular and acceptable only by the support of the followership. 

Let us make more folks than foes. 

We have laboured. Rewards will follow at the fullness of time. 

Above all, we must not waiver nor compromise our avowed aspiration to rebuild our darling Party, APC Rivers. 

To this, is the next challenge. 

Thanks for indulging me. 

I love All. 

Chief Tony C Okocha KSC, DSSRS, JP. 

Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Presidential Campaign Rivers State. 

National Chairman, defunct Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council, TSGICC. 

Leader of APC mainstream, Rivers.