The Leader/Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha has described the comments made by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lamaker Representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo state in the House of Representatives as “the invidious rants of a meddlesome interloper.”
Si Okocha made this submission today while briefing the press at the Rivers State Secretariat of the APC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Recall that Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, one of the opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had expressed strong disapproval of the Amendment of the Local Government Law of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, 22nd March, 2024, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who prides himself as the “Spokesman” of CUPP described the action of the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly as an act of “impunity”, “legislative rascality,” and “a coup against democracy.”
Speaking to newsmen earlier today, the Leader/Chairman of the CTC of the Rivers APC said that the Rivers APC is peeved at the concocted tissues of lies by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, wondering where he got the locus to speak so vehemently, since he doesn’t represent any of the 13 Federal Constituencies in Rivers State.
Speaking further, the Leader/Chairman of the APC in Rivers State said, “We are aware, stemming from profound research, that Hon. Ikemga Ugochinyere represents a Constituency in Imo State, and that he did nothing and said nothing at the time Imo State was a human slaughter slab. Is Hon. Ugochinyere speaking about Rivers State as an “Amicus”? Here too, he falters.”
Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha thanked Governor Hope Uzodinma, who stood up to the occasion at the time, and stopped the human slaughter in Imo State.
“How can Hon. Ugochinyere know that the Assembly vetoed over a bill to become law, without serving it on the Governor, and allowed the required time by the constitution”?
“How can Hon. Ugochinyere insult the sensibilities of Rivers people in exercise of his usual verbal diatribe”?
“When did Hon. Ugochinyere qualify to cast aspersions on duly elected representatives who were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly?, the Rivers APC leader queried.
He added that, “Hon. Ugochinyere displayed overtly that he was speaking from his pocket, otherwise, though a kindergarten yet in the Green Chambers, he should know what constitutes quorum in an Assembly of 32 Members.”
Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha further added that, “for the meddlesome interloper to charge 3 members of Assembly, to meet as Assembly to make laws for the State, Hon. Ugochinyere is tampering with a matter in Court, when he declared the seats of the 27 Assembly Members vacant.
He went on to say that, “if he was well grounded, he should have been abreast with Section 68 (G), and Section 109 (G) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The Rivers APC Chairman went on to submit that, ‘To get the Crux of the matter, why wouldn’t Hon. Ugochinyere, lambast his paymaster, Governor Siminialaye Fubara, for lacking in mission and vision, and so offering absolutely nothing to Rivers State and the mass of her people”?
“Why didn’t he see the financial profligacies of Governor Siminialaye Fubara, part of which he’s benefitting”?
“Why did he not see the sin in cladding some Rivers women half-naked, and showed off on traditional and new media, just for paltry sums”?
“He didn’t see any reason why the Governor of Rivers State is at daggers drawn with the legislative arm and so, seek to donate suggestions to mend the fence”?
“He is not curious to know why the Governor of Rivers State has blatantly refused to provide resources and support to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), to conduct Local Government Election in Rivers State”?
“Hon. Ugochinyere speaking from his pocket is comfortable with the weekly ostentatious charades and jamborees sponsored by the Government of Rivers State in what is dubbed “thanksgiving”.
“I know him. He knows me very well. In case he attempts a denial, he should at least remember that it is that man who was Chief of Staff, Government House between 2012 – 2015.”
In conclusion, Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha, the Leader/Chairman of the CTC of the Rivers APC concluded with the following demands:
(1) We demand that Hon. Ugochinyere should within 48 hours, apologize to Rivers people for the insults rained on US.
(2) That he stays within the lane of the appellation – Honourable – as he pulls himself up from the gutters.
(3) He should be warned of the dire consequences of hatchet job such as he is hired to do.”