APC,PDP in River state at war over Amaechi's ministerial screening

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
of desperation in its moves to stop the Senate from
confirming the nomination of ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi
Amaechi as a minister.
APC, through its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone,
alleged that PDP members have now resorted to
blackmailing Mr. Amaechi on the internet with a view to
rubbing his image ahead of his screening by the Senate.
Finebone however, declared that the PDP will not succeed in
its campaign against the former governor.
The state PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, dismissed the
APC defence of Amaechi as laughable and childish.
The APC in a statement cited two stories which suggested
that Amaechi bribed some APC leaders to facilitate his
screening by the Senate and that the federal government is
intimidating PDP Senators over the Amaechi matter.
It said:”In both online publications, agents of Governor Wike
and the PDP tried to justify the huge funds the Rivers State
Governor is providing to them by concocting wild,
pedestrian stories in form of news, which are put out to
unsuspecting and gullible online readers.
“These online outlets have in the past concocted many fake
news stories, purporting such stories to be based on
interviews with the former governor, that actually never
held; they also claimed to have talked with close associates
of the former governor, who they fail to name, just because
confidentiality of sources is a right accorded to journalists
under the law.
“Again, they continue to indulge in their malfeasance,
because most online readers often fail to see through such
false stories and the sinister motives of those behind them.
“It is important to emphasise that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi did not speak with any journalist as stated in the
story under reference. He also did not, at anytime, hold any
discussions with associates, friends or any person/persons
over the matter of his Senate screening at any time and
certainly did not and still does not have reasons to discuss
such issues with anyone, along the lines expressed by the
shameless online publication. Former Governor Amaechi is
at peace with himself and God.
“The said publications are manifestly false in their entirety.
Indeed, they are emanations from the infantile imagination
of those behind them and aimed at inciting the Senators of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria and blackmail them against
the upcoming screening of the former governor as one of
the ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu
Buhari.”
APC asked Senators and other Nigerians to discountenance
such stories.
But responding, the Rivers PDP said: “With the historic
woeful defeat of the APC in the state, which it ran to total
bankruptcy and near collapse notwithstanding the huge
internally-generated revenue and accruements from the
federal allocations, it is commonsense to fathom why they
insist in remaining in office to cover up their loot.
“Failure to do so explains why the APC in the state and those
strangers who assisted in the looting spree, are wrapped in
total confusion that is ravaging the party, leaving their
members disorientated as being expressed in hollow press
statements and ranting.
“Amaechi would not in any way be an asset to President
Muhammadu Buhari and lacks the integrity and morality to
speak for Rivers people.”