Our attention has been drawn to series of activities and actions of Mr Esuku M. Esuku, Acting State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Rivers State, the latest of which was his acceptance to work with the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, for the purpose of registering members for the APC and to collect the attractive N1b monthly.
The Party particularly feels disappointed and condemns in strong terms the report to work with the Rivers State Government on the agreement that he (Esuku) should register members for the governor for the proposed Rivers State APC registration.
We recall that the Governor, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi had offered to spend N1bn on an opposition party official, whose functions will, among other things, to act as a catalyst, speeding the rate of disaffection and destabilization in the opposition parties, particularly, the ACN, that has been consistent, most vocal, focused and untamed critic of the Amaechi’s style of governance in Rivers State.
ACN in a statement signed by the State Secretary, Mr Amonibia Akoko and Chairman of the Chairmen Forum, Hon Hope Onyeche said, “It is our information that part of the huge financial provision would be used to acquire, furnish and maintain a functional office under the control of the State Governor, and which will be manned by an opposition party stalwart”.
Mr Esuku M. Esuku collected the sum of Four Million Naira from the party’s coffers which has not been accounted for till date.
Mr Esuku M. Esuku also collected the sum of Eight Million Naira from Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of Local Government Council election.
Furthermore, we are demanding the party’s property he carted away and the personal belongings of the State Secretary.
Esuku M. Esuku is also working with the Rivers State government to register members for the APC.
“By these actions, Mr Esuku has demonstrated that he is contemptible, selfish, a non serious party man, and someone that should not be trusted by the people”.
The Party therefore, states clearly that Mr Esuku’s action of working with the Rivers State government is personal and selfish, and not in the interest of ACN and Rivers people.
The party views Mr Esuku’s action of accepting bribe from the Rivers State Government as unhealthy and not in the spirit of the ACN philosophy, and will therefore not hesitate to treat it seriously.
The party therefore, in its Emergency Meeting today in Port Harcourt, Rivers State considered it expedient and resolved to suspend Mr Esuku M. Esuku from the party in accordance with the rules and regulation, and relevant statutory provisions of the Party’s Constitution.
The party also refutes the statement credited to Esuku M. Esuku purported to have suspended some principal officers of the party including the National Treasurer, Hon Kenneth Kobani and state publicity secretary, Jerry Needam, describing it as false and misleading and therefore urges the general public to discountenance the alleged suspension.
By this suspension, Mr Esuku M. Esuku is hereby directed to hand over all documents, funds and properties of the ACN to the next superior Officer of the Party in the State.
