A member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Barr (Mrs.) Goma Kindness-Kalio Ohochukwu has Commended President Bola Tinubu for rewarding committed and loyal party members with appointments.
According to her, one of the many cases where the President showcased his appreciation to members for exemplary commitment to the party was the appointment of Chief Tony Okocha as Rivers State representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Port Harcourt based legal practitioner, a renown supporter of Chief Okocha, spoke passionately when she appeared on Democracy Today, a current affairs programme aired on AIT network service, Tuesday.
Ohochukwu, who served in the Contact and Mobilization Committee of the PCC, South South Directorate during the February general election, was at the studio, according to her, to set the records straight regarding a recent protest by some APC members in Rivers State who claimed being shut out in President Tinubu’s recent appointments.
Ohochukwu who also coordinated the Rivers State chapter of Female Lawyers In Politics In Support Of Tinubu/Shettima during the 2023 Presidential election, lauded President Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the principles of meritocracy and inclusivity in the appointment process, stating that such actions reinforce the party’s commitment to good governance and service to the nation.
She however condemned the action of the protesters for misconstruing President Tinubu’s policy of recognizing the tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty of party members who have consistently supported the party’s agenda.
The legal practitioner, who also coordinates the Rivers APC PCC Alliance (RAPA), accused the Rivers APC members loyal to former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of turning their backs on the Tinubu campaign train when it mattered most.
“What happened was that after the Primaries, the Amaechi and Tonye Cole supporters were not happy with the outcome and so, refused to support Tinubu. Tonye Cole even mounted his billboard without the pictures of Tinubu who is supposed to be his Presidential Candidate”, recalled the lawyer who also doubles as the National President, Political Falcons of Nigeria.Barrister
Ohochukwu, also the Legal Adviser, Greater Nigeria Assembly Forum (GNAF) and Intellectual Elite Youth Association of Nigeria (IEYAN), described the issues in Rivers State APC as a peculiar one.
“Those who supported Tinubu are few, and mainly those on the side of Chief Tony Okocha. You know that Tony Okocha had been a supporter of Tinubu even before he became President. This problem continued after the primaries, and Amaechi’s loyalists refused to support Tinubu.
“As the only woman in Contact and Mobilization in PCC, I know what I’m talking. When the matter started, it became a big challenge for us because APC as a party did not campaign for Tinubu but only the PCC members and all their grass roots supporters did. So, left for Rivers APC, there was no campaign for Tinubu.
“There wasn’t a single billboard where APC candidates put their pictures with Tinubu for campaign, no jingle in any radio or TV station promoting Tinubu’s campaign. It got to a point we were frustrated and had to have a meeting with Dakuku Peterside who is also a member of the Contact and Mobilization”, she said, adding that it got to a point where even Dakuku could no longer be reached.
The Rivers APC chieftain who served as Secretary, Welfare/Entertainment sub-committee, LOC, under the watch of Chief Tony Okocha during the 2023 Presidential rally in Rivers State, added that they came out with a budget for the execution of the Tinubu presidential campaign, for which she revealed that Rivers APC and even the national body did not contribute a dime.