After weeks of speculations of a frosty relationship with his boss, Rivers State deputy governor, Tele Ikuru dumped Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Ikuru, who hails from the same constituency with the APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, formally joined the PDP yesterday. Addressing his supporters, Ikuru described the APC as a “a party of rebels,” stressing that it was a party founded on falsehood and propaganda. Ikuru, who has been Amaechi’s deputy since 2007, said he had joined the APC out of “extreme loyalty” to the governor. He said: “Today (yesterday), 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 APC along with other disillusioned Rivers people. Ever since, as a true nature of APC unfolds, I continued to twist and turn in extreme mental and emotional agony. The more I struggle to belong, the more the Rivers in me rejects the APC. “After carefully studying 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 the robe of pretence and deceit. “APC is a party founded on deception and entrenched on unholy propaganda and falsehood.” Ikuru therefore urged his teeming supporters and the people of Rivers State to vote for the PDP at all levels in the forthcoming general elections. While describing the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Nyesom Wike, as a patriotic Rivers man who meant well for the people, Ikuru charged the people of the state to vote for President Jonathan this weekend. “I therefore on behalf of my teeming supporters and my humble self denounce the APC and we all jointly and severally resign our membership of the APC. “I therefore wash my hands off this treachery. In the light of the above, I therefore wish to use this privilege to call on all my supporters and 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. Sources close to Ikuru said he had been angry since he lost the APC governorship ticket to Peterside and to compound his woes, the APC state chairman, Davies Ikanya allegedly hijacked the party structure in Andoni from him. According to the paper he presented to the state, he said: “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.” Ikuru continued: “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 Jonathan and the Transformation Agenda that has brought so much relief and succour to the greatest number of Nigerians. I also urge all Rivers people to vote for Chief Nyesom Wike, who has shown by his antecedents, track records and boundless capabilities that he will deliver good governance to us.” The state PDP chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah confirmed Ikuru’s defection to the party, adding that he would be officially received to its fold today. He added that the deputy governor’s defection had marked the death of APC and the victory of PDP in the coming general elections.
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