Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mr Tele Ikuru, has said he was deceived by his boss, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) and called on the people of the state to fight the APC which he described as an evil at the gate.
This came as the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Felix Obuah, boasted that about 16 members of the 32-member state House of Assembly and about 21 commissioners had abandoned Amaechi.
The duo spoke on Monday in Port Harcourt at a reception to formally receive the deputy governor into the PDP following his defection from APC on Sunday.
Ikuru said the content of the address announcing his resignation from the APC was the truth and from the depth of his heart, stressing that it was the truth, with no iota of pretence.
He added that he felt relieved with his defection as he has freed his conscience.
His words: “For the first time in 18 months, I slept well yesterday (Sunday) and I woke up hale and hearty this morning (Monday). This is because I have freed my conscience.
“What is happening in Rivers State today will haunt us if we allow it to pass. It will haunt our future generation if we allow it to go unchallenged. For the sake of posterity, we must fight the evil. If it takes our blood, so be it because there is an evil at the gate.”
He thanked the people of the state for resisting what he described as the “devilish onslaught”, adding that it would have been disastrous if they had folded their arms.
He said by his defection, he and his supporters were “upholding what is right and true”, and thanked the Rivers PDP Governorship Candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, for rescuing the PDP from the “devilish onslaught”.
“He (Wike) stood against oppression and said, ‘if I perish, I perish’. He stood up and said the oppression against Rivers PDP will not stand.
Ikuru stated, “I must confess, I was deceived. I was told APC is a new order but it is all lies. It is just about the ambition of one man. God bless Nigeria; God bless Rivers State; God bless Wike.
“Let the statement be made loud and clear; for every one vote they get, we must have 200 votes. Come out with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and from Saturday, Rivers State must have peace. We are working to deliver this party and the state.”
While receiving Ikuru back to the PDP, Rivers PDP Chairman, Mr Felix Obuah, boasted that about half the number of members of the state House of Assembly and two-thirds of Amaechi’s commissioners were as good as in the PDP. (Thisday; Image: LIB).
