Lukman: NWC Preparing Grounds for Wike’s Emergence as Rivers APC Leader

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A former National Vice Chairman, North-west of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was preparing the stage for the emergence of the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, as the new leader of the party with the dissolution  of Rivers State Executives at all levels.

The APC NWC, last Wednesday, announced the dissolution of the Rivers State Executives of the party at all levels and appointed a seven-member Caretaker Committee led by Chief Tony Okocha to steer the party’s affairs in the state for the next six months.

Lukman in a statement yesterday tagged: ‘End of Progressive Politics’, said it was shocking that this was happening under President Bola Tinubu, who was envisioned to be progressive.

He further recalled that Okocha, who was alleged to be a supporter and political ally of Wike led a delegation of Wike’s loyalists on a courtesy visit to the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje on Thursday, October 6, 2023 where he alleged that Rotimi Ameachi worked against President Bola Tinubu in the last election.

According to him, Even without these allegations, it is public knowledge that Chief Amaechi has taken a backseat. Apart from Chief Amaechi, many other APC presidential aspirants for the 2023 elections have taken a backseat largely because President Asiwaju Tinubu has not demonstrated any interest to work with them.

The APC chieftain said without any reservation, the reality of Wike who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) serving in APC government suggested some strong backdoor political negotiations.

He wondered what the details of the negotiations could be, and if the APC was conceding to handover structures of the party in Rivers State to Wike.

“Given all these unfolding developments in APC, it is very clear that the NWC decision, dissolving Rivers State Executives of the party at all levels, is preparing the stage for the emergence of Barrister Wike as the new leader of APC in Rivers State.

“With Chief Okocha, who is alleged to be a political ally of Barrister Wike given the responsibility of serving as Caretaker Chairman, it simply means that all the new emerging executives for APC at all levels in Rivers State will be BarristerWike’s supporters. And since Chief Ameachi is a political rival of Barrister Wike, all Chief Ameachi’s supporters must be expelled from the APC.

“This is the dirty politics at play in Rivers State. It is very shockingly coming from leaders of a party envisioned to be progressive. Ideally, progressive politicians are expected to be committed to issues of justice and equity. This would require that when there are allegations of anti-party activities against leaders and members, such allegations should be properly investigated.”