Amaechi Okonkwo, Port Harcourt.
The spokesman of the Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogbonna Nwuke, on Monday afternoon, announced that he was quitting the party, citing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Etche ethnic nationality, his constituency, had been treated.
The former member representing Etche/Omuma federal Constituency in the National Assembly refused to say which party he would be joining but stated that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP was beckoning at him explaining that the PDP and APC were the leading parties in the country.
Speaking to journalists, in Port Harcourt, he stated that, though he was not a political bigot, he could not say that in the past six years “that our ethnic nationality, Etche, has been fairly treated,” stressing that there was no justification that the only position the people could get from the APC was a mere aide to the chaiman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and, recently, a member of board to an educational institution.”
He said; “A day that I didn’t want to come has come. For those who know me and my political history, I have always been very steady. I worked with Ebenezer Isokriari when he was aspiring to be governor. He didn’t win but we stayed with him. Thereafter, I took up membership of the PDP, serving with my very good friend and remained with him. But time comes in a man’s life when he needs to make certain decisions. Now, I believe it is time to step aside from the APC. No doubt about that, a part of me will die. We did not anticipate that a day like this will come. So, accordingly I want to tell you my dear colleagues that I have left APC.”
The former commissioner of information under the Chibuike Amaechi administration added that his reason for dumping the APC was personal saying “Last week or thereabout, I issued a statement saying that I was stepping aside from my role as spokesperson. As at that time, I did not say if I was leaving the party. I said then that my reasons for resignation were strictly personal.
“I am not an ethnic bigot but then, we cannot deny the fact that all politics is local. I do not believe that in the last six years that my ethnic nation has been properly treated by those we have fought for. So, it has been difficult to appreciate that why this is so; that in a comity of 23 local governments, that the Etche ethnic nation has remained empty when it comes to appointments and all. Perhaps, Etche needs new development partners because what is critical is the aspirations of Etche nation.”
Nwuke said that the people were promised change when they came to the APC but that the change was yet to come. ” We have not felt the impact in Etche when it comes to the APC”.
He disowned reports making the rounds that he has decamped to the PDP but accepted that the party offers the best option to him especially if the dreams and aspirations of Etche people could be better realised under the PDP.
The former APC spokesman said; “I think that the PDP beckons and it may just be the destination to go.”
On what the PDP might be offering to attract him back he stated that it was premature to make comments on that but “I’m hopeful Etche might be better for it in the near future”.