Rivers APC Denies Wike’s Ex-Spokesman Resigned Due To Financial Inducement From Amaechi

 The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied the rumour being peddled by the Special Adviser to the state Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike on Inter-Party Matters, Pastor Chris Tamunoala, that the governor’s erstwhile Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, defected to the APC because he was financial induced by the former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Mr. Inko-Tariah had last week Friday resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the APC.

He hinged his decision to defect on the compassion and unexpected show of love for him by Amaechi, who is now Minister of Transportation, despite the terrible things he had said about the former governor when he had to defend Governor Wike as his spokesman.

The Rivers governor, through his aide on inter-party matters, Tamunoala, however, said his former spokesman took the course of action due to the financial donation he received from the Minister when he took ill recently.

Debunking the rumour in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the State Party Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described the comment as malicious.

“This is not only malicious but also brings to question the credibility of those working for the outgoing Care-Taker Governor of Rivers State, as Sir Inko-Tariah in his resignation letter unequivocally cited the inhuman treatment meted to him by Wike as the principal reason for his exiting the doomed government”, Rivers APC said.

Mr. Ikanya said neither Mr. Amaechi or the party has any reason to induce anyone to join APC as the party’s track record of performance nor PDP’s dismal stewardship are enough reasons for any discerning PDP member to dump the party for APC.

“To us in the APC, Minister Amaechi’s assistance to Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah is characteristics of his concern and compassion for any Nigerian in need if he is in position to help. For him to assist Opunabo, who have severally castigated him only point to the fact that Amaechi is a good natured leader”, the statement by the chairman noted.

He recalled that the current PDP chairman in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah, was once a beneficiary of the large-heartedness of the former governor, who sponsored him abroad for proper medical attention, not minding their political differences.

“To Amaechi, rendering assistance to any Rivers State man is the only act that gives him joy”, Mr. Ikanya added.

The APC chair further stated that the fact remains that Inko-Tariah was already in the US and had resigned already when former Governor Amaechi did came to his assistance, which had nothing to do with the former’s resignation.

“It is apparent that Gov. Wike is yet to recover from the shock of Opunabo’s resignation and will stop at nothing to sully his reputation”, the Rivers APC chair stated.