Shocked governor calls Ikuru a ‘double-faced’ liar
By Iyalla Adaeye
Port Harcourt
Rivers state Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, has denounced membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Until his action yesterday, Ikiru was deputy to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who also doubles as the director general of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation.
Ikuru, in a statement yesterday, said his need to return to the PDP arose in view of the prevailing circumstances in the state’s APC.
He stated: “My dear people of Rivers state, I bring you honest and sincere greetings. Today, I address you out of the fullness of my heart.
“Recall that in December 2013, out of extreme loyalty to my boss and friend, I joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with other then disillusioned Rivers people.
“Ever since, as the true nature and motives of APC are unveiled, I have continued to twist and turn in extreme mental and emotional agony, the more I struggle to belong, the more the Rivers man in me rejects the APC.
“After carefully studying, interacting and analysing the leadership of the party, I have come to the sad conclusion that the APC is a party of rebels, insurgents and anarchists, clothed in robes of pretence and deceit. APC is a party founded on deception and it thrives on unholy propaganda and falsehood”.
Ikuru said in view of this, he had, on behalf of his teaming supporters, denounced the APC and “jointly and severally” resigned their membership of the APC.
He said: “My dear people of Rivers state, we of this generation will not in good conscience expect forgiveness and compassion from our forebears, posterity, and the spirit of our unborn generations if it is recorded in the annals of history that after 48 years of Rivers people supporting leaders from all other parts of this country with our votes and resources, we were the same that witch-hunted and hounded down the very first ever President from this region, granted us by providence. I wash my hands off this treachery.
“In the light of the above, I wish to urge all my supporters, the Good people of Rivers state to join hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to, massively, vote for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the transformation agenda that has brought so much relief and succour to the greatest number of Nigerians.”
Ikuru also canvassed votes for the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Nyesom Wike who, he said, had shown, by his antecedents, track record and boundless of capabilities that he would deliver good governance to the people of Rivers state.
In his reaction yesterday, Governor Amaechi said the reasons adduced by Ikuru for his defection were “shocking”.
Amaechi, who spoke through the Rivers state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said the reasons adduced by his erstwhile deputy were shocking as lkuru had consistently been the one driving political activities in his local government area of Andoni and that he had also been the second-in-command driving politics and governance in Rivers.
Semenitari said: “Whilst the news remains unofficial at this time, as the deputy governor is yet to notify His Excellency the Governor of his move, Governor Amaechi however wishes Engr Ikuru all the best in his future political endeavours.”
She added: “On a personal note, Governor Amaechi has accorded Engr Ikuru all the privileges and respect due the office of the deputy governor and has treated him with love as a friend and brother.
“Though the governor had hoped that the numerous rumours of Engr Ikuru’s double-faced membership of the APC and open romance with the PDP were not true, he however appreciates the fact that every individual has a right to pursue his political dreams, as he deems most appropriate.
“It is however regrettable that Engr Ikuru has chosen the dishonourable path of bare-faced lies and name-calling rather than the more honourable path of simply retracing his steps to where he has always been.”