Tonye Cole, former Rivers State governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to declare his political allegiance.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the Sahara Group co-founder recommended Wike formally join the APC in order to settle suspicions over his allegiance.
Cole stated that Wike’s defection would not only clarify his political position but would also improve Nigerian democracy and bring political stability to Rivers State.
“Is he (Wike) APC or is he PDP? As far as we know today, he is PDP,” Cole said.
“We cannot continue confusing the electorate in Rivers State and confusing Nigerians because it is dangerous for democracy that you are in one party, and you are controlling another party.
“The only person who is left to make a declaration as to where he stands in all of this is the minister, Nyesom Wike.
“Where I would implore him to act honorably is to come and join the APC. Leave the PDP, come and join the APC so that we all know now that we are standing in one bloc—no division, no confusion, nothing.
“Everybody is one bloc. This is where we are so that we begin to play the dynamics of party politics in the state.
“Allow PDP to be, allow ADC to be, allow the Labour Party to be, allow YPP to be. That’s what democracy is about.
“Let parties form their strength and come into the equation. Once that happens, then we know where we are.”
Wike has often stated that he is still a PDP member, despite his involvement in the APC-led administration.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
