The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee says it has not smeared the name of Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu, a former Member of the State House of Assembly in its recent press conference held in Port Harcourt, south-south Nigeria.
Acting State Publicity Secretary, Ogbonna Nwuke, in a statement to journalists Wednesday, said, “We understand Hon. Ogbowu’s concern, particularly if he was not one of those who acted to save the Rivers APC from the reign of persons who are members of the APC in the morning and PDP at night.”
The statement reads: “We however think that there are established channels of communication within the party that Hon Elemchukwu Ogbowu could have exploited before rushing to press. If Ogbowu had done so without demonstrating a penchant for sensationalism, he would have come face-to-face with the bare facts.
“First, we wish to categorically state that at no time did we advertently use the name of Hon. Ogbowu in our address to the media on Monday the 22nd of June, 2020.
“Rather, the name of Elemchukwu James who was equally a lawmaker in his time copiously reflected on the list that was presented to the media during the press briefing held on that day.
“Ogbowu ought to know that those who constitute the Caretaker Committee are men and women of integrity who have no desire whatsoever to play politics with the future aspirations of party members and the faith that they are placing on reconciliatory moves at this time.
“We are, satisfied with the conciliatory steps that Hon Sokonte Davies, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee has initiated to bring differing leaders of the party to the roundtable.
“Once again, we reiterate that Elemchukwu James was the one who participated in the meeting which removed Hon. Igo Aguma from office.
“It is our expectation that the clarification put forward by the Caretaker Committee would end the spiral of insinuations and misconceptions arising from the reaction of Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu.
“Let us add that the task before the Caretaker Committee is essentially that of peace building and we shall not be detracted from pursuing this noble cause that we believe holds a ray of hope for the APC in Rivers State.”
In another development, the Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State said it has learnt of a plot to draft a Judge of the Rivers State High Court serving in Omoku to issue an exparte order in favour of Hon. Igo Aguma and his associates.
Ogbonna Nwuke, the State Publicity Secretary noted that “we have equally learnt that the said Judge has already left his station for the Rivers State capital to preside on the matter brought before the, Rivers State Judiciary by Igo and his friends.”
It has become necessary to make this known to the public who are weary of ongoing attempts to submerge the APC in endless crisis in order to fester their inordinate ambitions.
We wish to state categorically that we are shocked that despite knowing that there are Judges of the High Court in Port Harcourt who are competent to hear such cases, Igo Aguma and his co-travellers gone all the way to Omoku to procure a Judge, to carry out their dastardly intentions to undermine a party they claim to love.
We are obviously witnesses to a recent alarm raised by the PDP to the effect that courts in Rivers State are being increasingly used to denigrate democratic processes that are in place for purposes of running the affairs of political parties.
The concern raised by the PDP confirms what is already known to Rivers people that some politicians have been in the habit of using a segment of the Judiciary in Rivers State to influence judicial decisions.
In the meantime, we urge the general public, particularly members of the APC to remain calm. We are monitoring the situation. Our lawyers are already on standby and would respond appropriately.
We urge members of the bench in Rivers State to eschew pressure from members of the political class who are determined to rubbish their hard-earned reputation.
While we insist that the APC has acted in respect of the ruling of Justice Omereji who reasonably urged the APC to rebuild, we will not hesitate, if it becomes necessary to petition judges who step into the arena to the NJC.
