A group known as Coalition of All Progressived Congress (APC) Support Groups in Nigeria, Cross River state chapter has rejected the appointment of Chief Akin Rickett as Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
The Group, however, advised the President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the background of those nominated for appointments.
The group in a communiqué endorsed by Comrade Iso Bassey Edim, State Chairman, Hon Edo Owan, State Secretary, and others, berated the minister for influencing appointments due for the state chapter of the party to those the group described as his friends and cronies.
The group frowned at the recent appointment of Chief Akin Ricketts as the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA Board.
“APC Cross River state has more than enough critical stakeholders, leaders and members who have contributed immensely and reasonably to the growth of the party, and they also have cognate experience in leadership, haven Sacrificed for the Party, served the state and country in various capacities.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) would be facing a fresh Presidential and other elections in 2023, hence the need to give Appointments to political assets who would be able to build the Party for Victory and not to give appointments to friends on the bases of sentiments.
‘We hereby call on the president to review the appointment of Mr Akin Ricketts as board chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and we also urge the President to always consult critical stakeholders in Cross River State in the event of any appointments.
“The character of every appointees must always be investigated to avoid embarrassing the Federal government of Nigeria as Chief Akin Ricketts comes with a huge certificate scandal as a police investigation of 2013 revealed.
“We also wish to State that the APC Led Federal Government should review it’s reward system because to us, the reward system in APC is Poor and discouraging to Hardworking Members who have put in all their Best for the Growth of the Party.”
Further, the group said, “it is worthy of note to say that the current crises in the Cross River State APC are fueled by external forces in the state who think they must control the party by working with few destructive elements to kill the party in the state.
One of such external forces is Rt. Hon Rotimi Ameachi who has been responsible for the crises in the state from 2015 till date by using his position as a minister to dictate what happens in APC Cross Rivers to the extent of encouraging party members to go to court.
“Rotimi Ameachi used his privileged position to appoint only his friends and cronies who do not have political and electoral value and who are not interested in the growth of the party in the start, but sidelined critical and committed members of the party who have always been on ground to build the party. Rotimi Ameachi rather prefers to go to PDP, pick his friends, influence appointments for them and then ask them to join APC to the detriment of steadfast, courageous, committed, sacrificial and critical stakeholders.
“We call on the President to call Rotimi Ameachi to order. He should stop using his privileged position to destabilize Cross Rivers APC by victimizing those who have paid their due for the party,” the group said.
Every attempt made to get the response of Chief Akin Ricketts on allegations of his certificate forgery proved abortive as his phone was not connecting and he did not reply to the WhatsApp message sent to him.
