- Wike swears-in newly-elected council chairmen
Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
Ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Rivers State chapter of the party has broken into factions as the immediate past Deputy Chairman of the party, Prince Peter Odike, has declared himself the acting Chairman of the party in the state, insisting that the election of Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree had been voided by the Court.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike monday swore in the 23 local government council chairmen elected in last Saturday’s elections conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
But in a swift reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone, who was also part of the old executive, said the party is one under the chairmanship of Flag-Amachree and leadership of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.
Odike made the declaration yesterday at Freedom House in Port Harcourt while addressing journalists in company of some former members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC.
He said as a result of the court order that declared null and void the last congresses of the party, the Dr. Davies Ikanya-led executive remains the only authentic leadership of the party in the state.
He said: “In no uncertain words, the court declared as null and void the purported ward, local government and state congresses which produced Flag-Amachree and his group.
“With the voiding of the Flag-Amachree midnight congress, our SWC which they sought to succeed is still in place and intact.
“Since the court has decided that no congresses have been held with the voiding of the so-called congresses, the Ikanya led-executive will continue with its work of running the party.
“The chairman, Ikanya, is in London for his eyes medical examination and treatment. I communicated with him on this development over the weekend. I wish him speedy recovery.
“By the party constitution, the deputy chairman acts pending his resumption. Other members of the working committee that I have met agreed that we should not allow Rivers State APC to die; not even by suicide.
“Consequently, I announce to you this morning that I, Prince Peter Odike, the Deputy Chairman of the party in Rivers State, pending the return and resumption of duty by the chairman, is the acting Chairman of the state APC.â€
In his reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Finebone, said the party is one under the chairmanship of Flag-Amachree and leadership of the Minister of Transportation, Amaechi.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt monday, Finebone said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State chapter of the APC is one under the able chairmanship of Flag-Amachree and leadership of Minister of Transportation. That is settled reality.
Inaugurating the chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Wike charged them to prioritise payment of salaries, promotion of security and environmental sanitation.
He said: “Now that you have emerged through a credible process, you must prioritise payment of salaries. This is key as no excuses will be tolerated.
“Council money is for salaries, development of the areas and security. You should endeavour to leave legacies of development across the state. Make a difference through the development of your local government areas.â€
He advised the chairmen to work closely with security agencies in their local government areas.
“You must create avenues of cooperation with all the security agencies. That will help you create the right environment for development to take place in your areas,†he said.
The governor charged the council chairmen of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema to develop the right platforms to ensure that their communities are safe.
He challenged the council chairmen of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Oyigbo Local Government Area and Eleme Local Government Area to take serious steps to ensure they clean specific areas of their councils.
