AAC Gov Candidate, Awara Reacts to Resignation Of Deputy, Says ‘I Earlier Turned Down Wike’s N3B Offer’

The Governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, has reacted to news of his Deputy’s resignation and defection to PDP, saying he didn’t foresaw a possible sell-out by him though Governor Nyesom Wike had also wanted to lure him with N3 billion offer.

In a statement obtained by BIGPEN ONLINE Tuesday, he, however said that the resignation which he only knew about on news and has not be officially communicated to him by his estranged running mate, smacks of betrayal by a man who is a father figure to him.

His reaction is reproduced below:

I Engr. Biokpomabo Awara hereby respond to the purported resignation of my running mate and deputy with dismay and a feeling of betrayal.

One of the reasons I picked him as my running mate is because of the long running relationship between the Ogoni and Kalabari people, dating back to pre-independence. I also choosed him because I saw a fatherly figure and capacity in him that could benefit Rivers Youths, since am 40 and he is a retired Nigeria Police Superintendent, we will have a great deal or coherence in strategy and result which can further strengthen our strategic alliance for the future generation to build on. Little did I know that my father will abandon me in the middle of a still river, when success is so near for us. I personally saw our joint ticket as Obama/Joe Biden ticket, Bush/Dick Cheney etc.

HRM King Alfred Diette Spieff and his likes were older than me when they turned around the old Rivers State into a garden city of wealth with numerous infrastructure and bonded our rich Rivers heritage. But today, we are losing it. I speak to you my fellow youths and critics,  you can be me too one day. Rivers State belong to us and we must work together to salvage her from sinking.

Unemployment is on the rise daily. Private sector growth has a record low in our State. Kidnappings, criminality and youths in cultism is on the rise. Go to Trans Amadi, the industry daughter of Rivers State, all the industries are packing out to new places outside our State. I weep with deep sense of sorrow because our attention is taken off human and material value.

On the issue of the resignation and defection of my running mate, let me state that:

1. I have not received any letter of resignation and defection from my running mate Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh.
2. When the story of his resignation first came out as rumour that Rivers State Governor have offered him 200m naira to abandon me, I had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had earlier turned down an offer of N3b, Gov. Wike offered to me some days ago through his associates. I discussed this with my running mate and outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter. 

When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to reach my deputy without success. I started developing some strange feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him.

3.  I am aware that a key component of their plot is to attempt to smear the towering image and figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. I want to state categorically that all the accusations made by my running mate against the Honourable Minister are blatant lies poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and associates, and you could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him. 

1. Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh is believed to be under tremendous financial pressure base on his statements.
2. The support the AAC got from the Honourable Minister and the APC was unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement drafted for him by Governor Wike are false, crude lies. The alliance between AAC and APC for the governorship election is as a result of our shared love for the State and our shared vision to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of cultism, rapidly growing poverty and the unsafe nature of our State in the hands of an administration that has wrecked almost everything in our State.
3. It is indeed sad, regrettable, disheartening and pathetic that my running mate will act in the way he did. I feel pity and sorry for him. However, I must be quick to add that it is one move that has no consequences on the AAC governorship ticket. It is inconsequential in all ramifications. No sane man standing an election as crucial as that of Rivers State will say the things he said. 
4. Rivers people have firmly taken the position that the outgoing Governor Wike can no longer lead them. The antics of Wike in using State resources, our collective wealth to attempt to buy everyone and buy him a second term in office will certainly fail. The so-called defection of my deputy is a ploy to distract us. We will not be distracted. We remain focused on liberating Rivers people, our people from the inept, cruel and clueless administration currently running the State aground.

I humbly thank my Rivers fathers, well meaning elders, our youths, my mothers, our women and all inhabitants in Rivers State for their prayers all through this exercise. I also pledge that the antics of PDP where potential opposition parties’ deputies are bribed to abandon their principal candidates and the pulling down of strong opposition candidates through ungodly and immoral means have ended in total failure. 

God will see us through this phase and we shall return Rivers back into its lost glory where militancy, insecurity and other uncivilised characters associated with us will be a thing of the past.

My administration will be diverse and inclusive, where there will be plenty of western investment and strong African growth, with great reach to regional players and continued support of the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

God bless Rivers State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.