The embattled junior Minister for Education and the
self-appointed leader of the PDP in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike over the
weekend played host to the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh.
Inside sources say the Minister who is currently battling
forces against his ambition to succeed Gov. Amaechi is considering the option
of moving to APGA. This move may not be unconnected with rumors that the Party
hierarchy has asked him to drop his ambition.
It was gathered that Wike who mainly depends on the support
of the First Lady is leaving no chances to actualize his dream of occupying the
Brick House in 2015. Though he is facing a stiff opposition from the Riverine
people of the state and beyond, he has already secured a Court Order
restraining the PDP from dissolving the state exco led by Felix Obuah. He has
single-handedly financed the Party since the exit of the governor from the
party.
Recently, the Local Government Exco of the party were
sponsored on a trip to Brazil to watch the World Cup while members of the State
Exco left for a two-week trip to Dubai for what they termed ‘Capacity
Building’.
Unfortunately, the major chieftains of the PDP in the state
have been cowed by Wike who has used his position as Minister for Education to
award juicy contracts to them. Most of them are scrambling for the wealth of
the man who considers himself the only force able to contend with Gov. Amaechi
come 2015.
The Riverine people of the state opposed to him have only
found a voice in Elemchukwu Ogbowu who is partly Kalabari and partly Ogba.
Ogbowu is said to be working closely with Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, who is from
Kalabari, a Riverine ethnic group who are yet to take a shot at the seat of
power alongside the Ogonis, who are Upland.
Beks as he is fondly called is said to be very close to
President Goodluck Jonathan as he is the Chairman of the Presidential Committee
on Power and a member of the Nigeria Economic Summit. It was gathered that Beks
is being supported by most of the members of the inner caucus of the President
including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who financial war chest is unparalleled.
The arch rival to Wike within the PDP is not a green horn in
the politics of the state as he has been a Commissioner twice.
The Paradigm
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