The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has dismissed claims that its ongoing political reconciliation is merely an electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, spokesperson of the Rivers State APC and the Rainbow Coalition Support, Chibuike Ikenga, said the reconciliation was aimed at bringing together political stakeholders to promote peace, unity and development in Rivers State.
“When there is consensus, when people have agreed, when everything has been put in place and all interests have been properly taken care of, you know it will drive, it will, engender progress, it will engender oneness, it will engender unity, peace, and development. It is not about campaign tricks, it is about what we intend to do, and we have all agreed and signed on that we are going to deliver good governance to Rivers people.”
Ikenga was responding to comments by Dr. Ilonu Nwobu-Basa, who had dismissed a reported reconciliation meeting involving Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and APC governorship candidate, O.K. Chinda.
He said the meeting was part of efforts by the Rainbow Coalition to reunite previously divided political interests in the state.
“The shenanigans he threw and the tantrums he threw yesterday were just to the fact that the leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT, had continuously rebuilding, had continued to rebuild the team in Rivers State and had finally met with the governor and his team.”
The APC spokesperson said the reconciliation had already attracted political figures and parties that were previously outside the coalition.
“You recall that in, one day or two ago, you saw the most prominent, uh, uh, guber candidate in ADC, Dr. Sekonte Davies, has come to join, rejoined the APC and the Rainbow Coalition. You also saw yesterday, video trending online where the Labour Party had also come to, join in the Rainbow Coalition.”
Ikenga said the coalition was pursuing what he described as the broader interests of Rivers State, including good governance, transparency, accountability and development.
“We are all Rivers people. We are interested in the interest of Rivers State. And what is the interest of Rivers State? Good governance, free, fair, and credible election, transparency, and then accountability, that’s what we are pursuing.”
He also rejected suggestions that the reconciliation was primarily about the politicians involved, stating that the stakeholders were themselves part of the Rivers community.
“The interest the Rainbow Coalition, the parties that have come together in this coalition are pursuing is a singular interest of Rivers people. And what are what are the representations of those interests? They include good governance, transparency, unity, integration, inclusion, and development.”
On claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara may pursue a different political direction, Ikenga maintained that the governor had publicly declared his support for the coalition and its APC governorship candidate.
“He has said so, he addressed the world before, he addressed Nigerians, the video is viral, if you Google it you’ll get it. We are all together.”
Ikenga said the political reconciliation had also helped reduce tensions in the state, which he said had previously affected development.
“We do we no longer want that crisis that had retarded development in Rivers State, we want to move our state as fast as possible in terms of development. And then, the indices are there showing that we are moving forward, because everyone, we are no longer fighting, you’re no longer hearing gunshots, you’re no longer hearing people fighting on the streets. We are all committed to bringing peace to our state and, of course, development.”
Ojo Triumph
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