Minister of Transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South-South geo-political zone, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has vowed not to support the governorship ambition of Senator Magnus Abe.
Senator Magnus Abe and Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former governor of the state, also reiterated that there were no two factions in the APC in Rivers, adding that the party had remained a united and viable opposition to the leading People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
Amaechi, weekend at a meeting in Port-Harcourt, with Ikwerre APC Chiefs and Elders’ Forum, IACEF, noted that out of 2.5 million voting strength in the state, his ethnic nationality, Ikwerre alone, produces 1.1 million.
The minister said Abe had every right as a member of his party to contest in the election, adding that constitution of the party would be adhered to in the process.
Amaechi expressed sadness that Senator Abe was in the business of insulting him (Amaechi), vowing that Ikwerre voting strength would be used against Abe.
He said: “There is no fight in the APC. I am not in any way stopping Abe from running for the governorship, but what I know is that I will not support him. Abe is daring me, an Ikwerre son. He is abusing me every day. I will ensure I use Ikwerre vote against him.”
Amaechi maintained that the governance of the state must be rotated among the different ethnic nationalities that make up the state, adding that it will be greed if Ikwerre retains power for more than 12 years.
He disclosed that he would support any riverine candidate in the 2019 elections, adding that when riveriners finish their eight-year tenure, power would be given to the Ogonis.
“When we finish with riverine, if Ogoni shows interest, we will support them. I am not saying that Ogoni people do not have qualified persons. In every field of study, you must see a graduate from Ogoni even to the point of Ph.D.
“At the moment, we have not chosen a candidate; only God will decide who will become the next governor.”
However, Ikwerre Elders and Chiefs have pleaded with Amaechi to forgive all Ikwerre sons and daughters that he helped, but have turned against him.
In his address, the Chairman, IACEF, Chief Sunny Dikeh, said the chiefs and elders of Ikwerre would rally round Amaechi to ensure that APC regained power in the state.
Dikeh said: “We are aware that some Ikwerre sons and daughters have betrayed you after assisting them to attain heights that ordinarily they could not have attained. We are here to say sorry and also apologise on their behalf.”