All Progressives Congress caucus in Etche Local Government
Area of Rivers State has suspended its chairman, Chief Allwell Onyesoh, for
allegedly “disrespecting” the leader of the party in the state and Minister of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The caucus also announced the former member representing
Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Ogbonna
Nwuke, as its interim chairman.
The caucus, in a statement on Tuesday signed by Chief Okey
Amadi and nine others, said it had also elected Elder Geirge Nwanjoku as its
secretary.
Onyesoh, a former Commissioner for Sports, was accused by
the APC caucus in Etche of attempting to smear Amaechi’s image, adding that his
suspension was to stop him (Onyesoh) from further insulting Amaechi.
“Our brother and friend, Allwell Onyesoh, has become
reckless in so many ways in his desperate reactions to sensitive matters, which
ordinarily should call for great caution, tact, and understanding”, the
statement reads.
“Similarly, he has chosen where reason ought to be needful,
to exhibit great disrespect to and disregard for the person of our indisputable
leader and Minister of Transportation, the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
“As politicians and major stakeholders, we clearly
understand the underlying reasons for the shocking behaviour of Chief Allwell
Onyesoh and what is obviously transforming into a deliberate scheme to
destabilise the APC in Etche.
“An extra-ordinary meeting of Etche caucus and major
stakeholders of the APC in Etche held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the Etche
headquarters, Okehi, to examine burning issues, which affect the future and
welfare of our party. After far-reaching deliberations and consultations on a
wide range of issues, the following resolutions were taken:
“That Etche people are irrevocably loyal and committed to
the able leadership that is being offered by our great leader and Minister of
Transportation, the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“That our resolve to abide by the basic principles upon
which our great party is founded which stress among other things, party
supremacy, the strengthening of our democratic institutions, discipline, order,
and change that we all can see remain unshaken.
“That Chief Allwell Onyesoh is hereby suspended from the
Etche APC caucus until he purges himself of contempt; that in the interim,
Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the Rivers State Executive Council and
former member of the National Assembly is now to act as the protem chairman of
Etche caucus, while the secretary of the party in Etche, Elder George Nwanjoku
is to act as the secretary of the caucus”.
By Wale Odunsi
