Biokpomabo Awara, governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers state, has attacked Governor Nyesom Wike, he accused him of offering him N3 billion to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He denied claims by his erstwhile deputy candidate that the Minister
of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives
Congress (APC), forced them to sign post-dated resignation letters.He
expressed disappointment over Akpo Bomba Yeeh’s resignation and
defection to the PDP.
He said, “When the story of his resignation first came out as a
rumour, that Rivers State Governor has offered him N200m to abandon me, I
had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had
earlier turned down an offer of N3bn, Gov. Wike offered to me some days
ago through his associates. I discussed this with my running mate and
outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any
interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he
neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.
“When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to
reach my deputy without success. I started developing some strange
feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him.“I am aware that a key
component of their plot is to attempt to smear the towering image and
figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi. I want to state categorically that all the accusations
made by my running mate against the Honourable Minister are blatant lies
poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and associates, and you
could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him.
“Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of
resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed
any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh, is believed
to be under tremendous financial pressure based on his statements.
“The support the AAC got from the Honourable Minister and the APC was
unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement
drafted for him by Governor Wike are false, crude lies. The alliance
between AAC and APC for the governorship election is as a result of our
shared love for the state and our shared vision to liberate Rivers State
from the shackles of cultism, rapidly growing poverty and the unsafe
nature of our state in the hands of an administration that has wrecked
almost everything in our state.
“It is indeed sad, regrettable, disheartening and pathetic that my
running mate will act in the way he did. I feel pity and sorry for him.
However, I must be quick to add that it is one move that has no
consequences on the AAC governorship ticket. It is inconsequential in
all ramifications. No sane man standing an election as crucial as that
of Rivers State will say the things he said.
“One of the reasons I picked him as my running mate was because of
the long-running relationship between the Ogoni and Kalabari people,
dating back to pre-independence. I also chose him because I saw a
fatherly figure and capacity in him that could benefit Rivers Youths. I
personally saw our joint ticket as Obama/Joe Biden ticket.”
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