PORT HARCOURT, Rivers — In the labyrinthine corridors of Nigerian politics, where alliances shift like sand dunes in the harmattan, recent declarations of support from erstwhile opponents have once again stirred the cauldron of suspicion and intrigue. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sounded the alarm bells, denouncing what it perceives as the duplicitous embrace of President Bola Tinubu by elements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly those aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
At the heart of this political drama lies Rivers State, a battleground where rival factions vie for supremacy with Machiavellian zeal. Chief Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, took centre stage at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, lambasting what he termed “tongue-in-cheek politics” and “mid-night pseudo-love” for President Tinubu.
The spark igniting this conflagration was a group purporting to be members of the defunct PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, led by Dr. Abiye Sekibo, former director-general of the PDP campaign council. In a press conference held in Port Harcourt, Sekibo and his cohorts pledged their allegiance to Tinubu while anointing Governor Siminilayi Fubara as the PDP’s torchbearer in the state.
However, Okocha was quick to extinguish the flames of this purported alliance, branding it as a mere smokescreen to obscure ulterior motives. He castigated Fubara’s alleged profligacy, accusing him of squandering state resources on lavish weekly Thanksgiving services instead of addressing governance issues and fulfilling promises made in a peace accord brokered by the President.
The APC stalwart minced no words in reminding the public of the historical enmity between these erstwhile PDP members and Tinubu. He recounted their past diatribes and smear campaigns, including spreading malicious rumors about Tinubu’s health during electoral showdowns.
Okocha’s admonition echoed a warning cry, cautioning against the insidious machinations of political opportunists. He underscored the need to remain vigilant in the face of such chameleonic shifts, reaffirming the APC’s unwavering commitment to its principles and steadfast leadership.
As the political landscape continues to morph and mutate, these developments serve as a stark reminder of the perennial game of thrones played out on Nigeria’s political chessboard. In a realm where loyalty is a rare commodity and betrayal lurks behind every handshake, discerning friend from foe becomes an increasingly daunting task.
