Rivers lawmakers divided over Amaechi, Abe

More revelations have emerged on the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers state.

Despite the obvious crack within the party’s fold in Rivers, some chieftains of the APC have continued to deny that all is not well. But in an interview with selected journalists, the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Andrew Uchendu picked on his colleague, Senator Magnus Abe of Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Senator Uchendu in the interview said Senator Abe was wrong in his claim that the State APC Leader and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is responsible for the crisis rocking the party. He said Senator Abe opted out of a decision that was jointly taken by leaders of the APC ahead of 2019 in a bid to pursue his personal ambitions. Senator Uchendu also recalled the resolution at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the National Vice Chairman of the APC for South-South, ‎where it was agreed by all, including Senator Abe that there was no crisis in the party. According to Uchendu, “At some point, Amaechi asked DAP to re-organize the party while he concentrated on the task of delivering as a Minister. At another, he withdrew that directive. “He asked everybody with interest to first work towards rebuilding and re-uniting the party, while many agreed, few persons like Sen. Abe refused “Amaechi made it possible for Abe to be the Minority Leader of the State Assembly while he (Amaechi) was Speaker; made it possible for him to cross over to the PDP and also ensured he got appointed as Commissioner for Information under then Gov. Peter Odili “Amaechi wanted Abe to go to the Senate, at first attempt, it was unsuccessful, years later when the opportunity came, he kept to his words and ensured Abe went to the Senate against all odds Amaechi had another person in mind to become the Executive Director, Finance & Administration in NDDC, but Abe begged him for a concession to nominate a candidate, Amaechi obliged him by dropping his original candidate because of Abe’s appeal “The 2019 gubernatorial candidate of APC will emerge through competitive primaries.” Recall that Senator Magnus Abe has consistently blamed Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for the crack in the party over the former’s governorship ambition.