By Dennis Naku
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has alleged that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, voted against Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC in the 2023 general elections.
Okocha said this while speaking with newsmen after a solidarity protest by leaders from various political factions in support of the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly at their quarters in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The leaders were protesting against the recent visit of Fubara to the state assembly quarters on Thursday, amidst claims that he plans to demolish the structures.
Okocha vowed that as the leader of the APC in the state, he would do everything within the law to protect the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He stated, “You can see how Rivers leaders thronged out in their numbers, un-bargained, unplanned, to visit the assembly quarters.
“It goes to show the world that Rivers State is united. The Speaker has taken his stand to continue to carry out his legitimate functions and has given us a synopsis of what transpired when Governor Siminialayi Fubara, in his Gestapo and commando style, came into the assembly quarters with thugs and harassed the assembly members.
“Leaders have spoken as leaders of the state. I want to narrow it down to the party – (APC). 27 of the members of the state assembly are our property, and we owe them a responsibility to do everything to protect them.”
Continuing, he said, “At every twist and turn, Governor Fubara, will come out publicly, claiming to be supporting Mr. President, in a bid to continue to curry political patronage and capital.
“It is not true; it is a fluke! They want to latch onto the back of the President to continue to engage in their illegality. They claim to have voted for President Tinubu in the last election, but the record shows that Governor Fubara voted against Mr President.
“The same Fubara is the one funding people to go to court to challenge the President’s authority.”
He expressed dismay that the governor was trying to arm-twist the legislative arm of government by proclaiming what he calls an “Executive Order”, to merge the State House of Assembly with the Government House, thereby fusing the Legislative and the Executive Arm of Government.
Okocha warned that the APC in the state will resist such ‘illegal’ action with the last drop of its blood.
Source: The Punch