As the All Progressives’ Congress in Rivers State fights to free itself from its present political predicament, an elder statesman and activist, His Highness, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has said that the All Progressives’ Congress in Rivers State is in disarray for not paying attention to expert advice.
The elder statesman who is the spokesperson of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said in a telephone interview that he had advised members of the All Progressives’ Congress in the State on peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and unity to solve the problem facing the party but that they did not adhere to his advice.
Sara-Igbe said: “Over time, I had advised the (APC) party members to embrace peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and unity. These had been my song… (and) today, they have all seen the danger of not taking advice… I pray that they realize themselves so quickly and come together with the view of resolving this problem they are facing”.
He said that the All Progressives’ Congress could get the favour of God if members of the party in the State would forgive one another and embrace peace and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the elder statesman and activist said that the fact that the All Progressives’ Congress in the State is facing a challenge over the nullification of its primaries by a Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt does not mean that the way is all clear for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win an easy victory for Governor Nyesom Wike in the forthcoming governorship election in the state in which he will run for a second term.
It will be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Port-Harcourt under Honourable Justice James Omotosho recently delivered a judgement which nullified the direct and indirect primaries conducted by two factions of the All Progressives’ Congress in Rivers State.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Omotosho had said that both factions of the All Progressives’ Congress acted in disrespect of a pending suit when they conducted their party primaries.
Justice Omotosho held that the All Progressives’ Congress in Rivers State could not have produced candidates for governorship, National and State Assembly elections when the matter was pending in court and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accept any candidates for election from either the Senator Magnus Abe-led faction or Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the All Progressives’ Congress in the State.
Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South East Senatorial district in the National Assembly and billionaire businessman, Arch Tonye Cole have both claimed to be the governorship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress in Rivers State for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Sara-Igbe who did not say whether he was in support of or against upland/riverine dichotomy in the politics of Rivers State, however said that the next governor to come out from the governorship election should be one that would meet the needs of people in every part of the state and would have “compassion” for poor people.
