Rivers State APC political bigwigs on Sunday February 6, 2022 spoke authoritatively in support of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023.
They also gave reasons for supporting the APC National Leader’s political ambition to become president of Nigeria come next year.
Speaking to a mammoth crowd of APC supporters during the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity (BATS) Vanguard Ikwerre Local Government chapter, former Chief of Staff Rivers State Government House under Rotimi Amaechi administration, Hon Tony Okocha, said they were giving their support to Tinubu because he showed up and rescued the current Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his political associates when they were being pummelled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014.
Okocha who is the Rivers State Coordinator, BATS –Vanguard said if Tinubu had not turned up, they would have been swallowed by the PDP.
He said: “When out of our recklessness in 2013, we lost the structure of PDP in Rivers State, we became like orphans. We were overwhelmed. We needed respite. It took Tinubu who came to say we will not wallow in helplessness. And that was how we joined APC.
“Our business is to sell Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we want Rivers State to be part of our story. BAT will become president come 2023. BAT rescued us in 2014 when we were being pummelled daily by the PDP”.
Elder Chidi Wihioka, an iconic political heavyweight in Ikwerreland who represented Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 said Tinibu will solve the problem Nigerians are facing being that he had a long time ambition to be president.
He told the mammoth crowd: “We stand by Tinubu and Tinubu we will continue to stand because this is a man after being governor for eight years, has never aspired to be minister, senator, vice president or take any appointment, instead he has always nominated people to such positions.
“We are not aware that someone from Ikwerre wants to become president of this country. All our votes will be for Tinubu”.
Dare Owotomobi, National Coordinator Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity (BAT), Vanguard confirmed that Tinubu will run for president in 2023. He said: “The request for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed to run as president of Federal Republic of Nigeria is real. He is running and it is going to be loud.
I assure you that Rivers is recognized as a home state for Tinubu”.
Other APC bigwigs who spoke in support of Tinubu’s presidential bid were; Wogu Boms – Director-General, Freedom House and former Attorney-General, Rivers State, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Wilson Ake – Former Senator representing Rivers West and Mary Elyger-APC Women Leader.
Our correspondent reports that Golden Chioma, Rivers APC Chairman was filled with joy over the support expressed for Tinubu and Senator Magnus Abe.
