Tinubu ‘ll  Deliver Good Governance, Says APC Chieftain

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has expressed believe that the President – elect, Bola Tinubu in his first tenure will deliver good governance in the country.

This as the APC in the state has called for the setting up of an Elections Offences Tribunal in the country to investigate and recommend punishment for all election related offences.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Okocha stressed that as the 16th president, Tinubu would fulfill all his campaign promises to Nigerians.

Okocha revealed that one of the reasons for the president-elect visit to the state, was for him to have knowledge of the level of neglect Rivers people suffered in past years from the federal government.

He said: “I want to assure you that one of latent reasons why the outgoing governor invited the President-Elect to Rivers State, was to show him the hospitality of Rivers people and to bring his attention to the deprivations that Rivers State had suffered over time from the federal.

“Are you not aware that in the last eight years, there is nothing tangible that has come to Rivers State courtesy of the federal government. The one they are doing is still at a very snail speed, the Opobo/Bonny link road. That project is in link with NLNG, not solely federal government project.

“But I can tell you on a holistic terms that Tinubu will do very well. Apart from our prayers for him to do well, I know that he has a track record of delivery. What is important in life is that when you have a vision, lay out your tactics to achieving that vision.”

Okocha dismissed the alleged claim by the party’s governorship candidate, Tonye Cole that the president-elect visit to Rivers was on a private invitation.

He alleged that Cole did not contribute to the emergence of Tinubu, while commending Wike for his role in the victory of the APC presidential candidate on February 25, 2023.

“Cole said the visit of Tinubu was a private visit to Wike. He was just blabbing. He is a blatant lier. Tinubu was here on a two days working visit. Wike never had a wedding party or birthday. It was a state government function.

“I make bold to say that Cole refused to fund that campaign of Tinubu in Rivers State. He refused to release funds.

Governor Wike gave us the venue. The only person, who supported us to achieve the campaign, was Tein Jack-Rich.”

Meanwhile, in a statement signed by spokesperson of APC in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, said electoral crimes are crimes against humanity and must not be treated with a slap on the wrist punishment.

Nwauju said: “As the various Elections Petitions Tribunal sittings begins this week, we reason that interrogating the integrity of the results and subsequently affirming or voiding these results is not enough to deter the political class from future electoral malfeasance and crimes against humanity.

“Our thinking is that the 10th National Assembly must as part of its Legislative Agenda, consider the amendment of the Electoral Act to give life to an Elections Offences Tribunal which will ensure that all established cases of fraudulent subversion of the will of the people through electoral malpractices, voter intimidation, hijack of ballot boxes, physical assault, sponsorship of violence and even compromising election officials are all thoroughly investigated and people serve prison terms without an option of fine.”