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Failed Politicians Behind Planned Anti-Tinubu Protests – APC
..Says, Amaechi warned us never to invite him to meetings
By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA
The All Progressives Congress APC has cautioned Nigerians against the proposed protest against the President Bola Tinubu administration, describing it as the handiwork of failed politicians.
Caretaker Chairman of the party in Rivers state, Chief Tony Okocha disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
He said; “As a party in Rivers State and patriotic citizens of Nigeria, we would like to seize this opportunity to caution against the planned protest by people I call failed politicians.
They cannot destroy the APC or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We should support the president as he is determined to move Nigeria forward. It will take time, but the process is in place.
“We should not compare Nigeria to Kenya or Sudan. The circumstances and indices are different and our population cannot be compared to those countries. Encouraging protests will only lead to chaos. We advise Nigerians not to join or support what I call failed politicians who think they can destroy the APC or the president.
“The truth be told. Let us face reality here. What is the reason for the planned protest? The reason for the planned protest as I heard is that there is hunger in the land. Is President Tinubu the architect of hunger in the land? Why are we not demonstrating and protesting against our governors? In my time as the Chief of Staff (to Rivers state Government), we had allocations to the tune of N6.6 billion monthly. That was the maximum we got.
But Rivers State today is coasting home with more than N28 billion from federal allocation. So, what happened? The removal of fuel subsidy brought in money to the system and the President didn’t put the money in his pockets.
He is giving out. When these money are given to the states, do they think the President should also come and administer its use? So who is behind this? Those who are behind this are the failed politicians who got power through the backdoor.
They should wait for 2027 and go far away from APC if they can.
“The intention and motive is sinister. And they know themselves. The Presidential spokesperson discussed this matter and everyday I watch on television that this slangs are from patriotic Nigerians.
What is the essence and the result? Would there be confrontation? Between the protesters and security agencies? Or the protesters against another group protesting for Mr President? Can that possibly be the solution to our problems? Who is a good soldier? A great soldier is not the man who went to war with others and lost all of them and didn’t win a war.
The greatest soldier is a man who went to war got victory with minimal damage. It didn’t work in Kenya, and Sudan and these countries are even smaller compared to Nigeria. The resultant effect of that on Nigerians will be most devasting. And of course nobody knows who will be involved. It could be the man who is leading the team”, he added.
On the activities of the APC in Rivers state, he said the party is doing excellently unlike in the past when it was like a social club.
Noting that the state APC is fully in support of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Okocha said APC remained all-inclusive.
He however said a former Governor of teb state, Rotimi Amaechi has warned the party never to invite it to anybof her meetings.
“The APC in Rivers State is doing excellently well. Recall that we took the party from the brink where it was almost called a social club. As I speak to you today, our office has become a beehive of activities, with members who had left and some who were non-partisan beginning to throng into the party in droves. If you are a visitor to Port Harcourt, you can look at number 268B Aba Expressway, where the state secretariat is located.
“Beyond that, we have also been able to convene meetings of our stakeholders at different strata. We have met with stakeholders at the national level, including past and present senators, former governors, serving House of Representatives members, and principal officers of the State House of Assembly.
We have also met other expansive national stakeholders, including Assembly members and many more. We can proudly say that APC Rivers State has provided the people of Rivers State with the needed opposition because we have taken the interests of our people to heart.
We have assumed the position of watchdog against a non-functional government, which has garnered a lot of support from politicians and non-politicians alike”, he said.
On Amaechi, the APC chairman said; “I was Chief of Staff but I am unable to answer. At some point he got into law school. And from Year 1 we became incommunicado.
You are also aware that at some point, at the Presidential primary election, he also decided to disappear into thin air. So, whether he is party member or not, I wouldn’t know. But all the meetings we call, like a particular one for former Governors, he sent a message to the secretary of the party. And warned him that he should never dare to send him message about the party. So should we go to his house and attack him?”