Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) has admitted that there was confusion in Rivers State Chapter of the party.
He stated this while addressing a faction of Rivers APC led by Tony Okocha, a former Chief of Staff to the then Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
Ganduje called on the faction to give the party’s national leadership an enabling environment and a chance to resolve the issues to make APC formidable in the State.
He said: “We have received your address and the party will come in, and see how we can get a solid party leadership so that we can move forward. But what we are begging is, do not overheat the system.
“Overheating the system, I mean some will go for litigation and, a vicious cycle will come again.
We don’t want too much analysis because they say too much analysis, leads to paralysis.
“So, give us a chance so that we can consult, we’ll look at the constitution of APC then, we wait and see how we can put things in order,” he said.
Ganduje noted that APC in Rivers State is highly fictionalized and the party was killed by litigations, calling for unity of purpose for future electoral victories.
“One important question that you asked and we also, need to ask is, how come we won presidential election and lost state election. You said it was a miracle. Yes, if you says it’s miracle, there must be a messiah.
“Without winning Federal election, across many States, Bola Ahmed Tinubu couldn’t have become the president of this country, so, we have to congratulate you for that.
“But what we are saying, yes, there is confusion in the party, but, we don’t want members to over heat the system, we are focused, we are organized, we work scientifically in politics.
“Therefore, you give us an enabling environment, give us a chance so that we can put a round peg in a round hole, square peg in a square hole, so we can maintain our dignity, as a party,” he added.
Earlier, Okocha who apparently asked the APC national leadership under Ganduje not to recognize or reward the Amaechi faction, demanded that only his group be contacted for anything through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike whom he he described as the only party leader in the State.
“Mr. Chairman, we summarize that the only group in APC Rivers State legitimate to seek compensation for the victory of APC and Tinubu in Rivers State, is the team, here.
“Please, contact us through the leader of the Political infantry in Rivers State, who is serving in the Federal Cabinet, presently.
“Finally, we pray Mr Chairman, to discountenance the machinations of the pretenders, who via hues and cries and trumping up lies, want to negate the Natural law that aptly recommends that, ‘One reaps where he sows.’
“Those persons neither supported the Party, nor sincere in their hearts, to be happy that President Tinubu made it to the Presidency,” he said.
Recall that a group of APC, Rivers State chapter, led by Tony Cole was at the party National Secretariat last week on a similar visit, declaring their support for the party and seeking for compensation and recognition.