The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of desperation in its moves to stop the Senate from confirming the nomination of ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a minister.
APC, through its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, alleged that PDP members have now resorted to blackmailing Mr. Amaechi on the internet with a view to rubbing his image ahead of his screening by the Senate.
Finebone however, declared that the PDP will not succeed in its campaign against the former governor.
The state PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, dismissed the APC defence of Amaechi as laughable and childish.
The APC in a statement cited two stories which suggested that Amaechi bribed some APC leaders to facilitate his screening by the Senate and that the federal government is intimidating PDP Senators over the Amaechi matter.
It said:”In both online publications, agents of Governor Wike and the PDP tried to justify the huge funds the Rivers State Governor is providing to them by concocting wild, pedestrian stories in form of news, which are put out to unsuspecting and gullible online readers.
“These online outlets have in the past concocted many fake news stories, purporting such stories to be based on interviews with the former governor, that actually never held; they also claimed to have talked with close associates of the former governor, who they fail to name, just because confidentiality of sources is a right accorded to journalists under the law.
“Again, they continue to indulge in their malfeasance, because most online readers often fail to see through such false stories and the sinister motives of those behind them.
“It is important to emphasise that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not speak with any journalist as stated in the story under reference. He also did not, at anytime, hold any discussions with associates, friends or any person/persons over the matter of his Senate screening at any time and certainly did not and still does not have reasons to discuss such issues with anyone, along the lines expressed by the shameless online publication. Former Governor Amaechi is at peace with himself and God.
“The said publications are manifestly false in their entirety. Indeed, they are emanations from the infantile imagination of those behind them and aimed at inciting the Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and blackmail them against the upcoming screening of the former governor as one of the ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
APC asked Senators and other Nigerians to discountenance such stories.
But responding, the Rivers PDP said: “With the historic woeful defeat of the APC in the state, which it ran to total bankruptcy and near collapse notwithstanding the huge internally-generated revenue and accruements from the federal allocations, it is commonsense to fathom why they insist in remaining in office to cover up their loot.
“Failure to do so explains why the APC in the state and those strangers who assisted in the looting spree, are wrapped in total confusion that is ravaging the party, leaving their members disorientated as being expressed in hollow press statements and ranting.
“Amaechi would not in any way be an asset to President Muhammadu Buhari and lacks the integrity and morality to speak for Rivers people.”
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