The Non-Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF) of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of trying to lure its members and steal its ideas.

NIPF Coordinator, Chief Uchenna Okokoba, yesterday warned PDP to desist from such dishonourable practices. He issued the warning during a meeting of the NIPF held at the State APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt. Okokoba said that the warning had become necessary following reports reaching him that PDP leaders in the state had been making overtures to NIPF members with a view to luring them away from the ruling APC.

“The PDP leadership in Rivers State has approached some of us, requesting us to dump our great party and switch camp to them, assuring us that we will be paid in millions of Naira if we switch camp. What they forget is that we are not in this project for money but to ensure that Rivers State is blessed with good leadership under an APC government. We are committed and ready to ensure that our goals, vision and mission for Rivers State are actualised no matter the odds,” Chief Okokoba said in his welcome address.

He disclosed that based on their rejection of the overtures from the PDP leadership, the party in its desperate efforts to make a presence in the State has contacted one Dr. Peter Okoye residing in Nnewi in Anambra State to help it establish a sister body of non-indigenes in Rivers State to be named “PDP Rivers State Non-Indigenes Movement”. “We wonder why a fellow who is not residing in Rivers State should be contacted to form a political body in the State. We have instructed our people not to have anything to do with such a body when finally formed,” Okokoba stated.

The NIPF Coordinator presented the final report from the 21 local government areas of Rivers State, indicating that 148,497 non-indigenes registered with APC at the end of the recent registration of new members of APC in the state. This new figure, he noted, is far above the 100,000 registrants contained in the group’s preliminary report.

Giving a breakdown of the figures, Okokoba said that Port Harcourt registered the highest number of 15,156 non-indigenes; followed by Ikwerre, 10,931; Obio-Akpor, 10433; Etche, 10,112; Eleme, 9,915;, Etche, 7,280; while Asari-Toru Local Government came last with only 2,090. The results of other Local Government Areas are as follows – Abua/Odua, 3,520; Akuku Toru, 4,560; Ahoada East, 5,612; Ahoada West, 4,991; Andoni, 8,931; Bonny, 6173; Degema, 2,860; Emohua, 10,112; Gokana, 4,131; Khana, 8,921; Ogun/Bolo, 2,920; Okirika, 2,550; Omuma, 4,272; ONELGA, 6,832; Opobo/Nkoro, 5,168; Oyigbo, 6,860 and Tai, 4,390, making the grand total of 148,497 non indigenes that have registered with party, APC.

He said that more non-indigenes would have been registered if not for the violence introduced by the PDP leadership during the exercise.

Meanwhile, NIPF Leader, Barr. Chuma Chinye, who is also the Rivers State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, has boosted the operations of the NIPF by donating a new air-conditioned coaster bus to the group. Chinye said he made the donation to make it easier for NIPF to mobilise non-indigenes in the state to contribute optimally towards making APC the leading political party in the state. The commissioner declared that the Forum stands on a firm ground, assuring the members that the era of non-indigenes being excluded in the affairs of the state is gone for good “as we have done much in contributing to the development of Rivers State through payment of our taxes and participating in good governance of the state.”

He charged the NIPF leadership and members not to feel intimidated by the acts and antecedents of the PDP leadership in the State as they have nothing good to offer them and the state in general. He concluded by urging other well-to-do members of the Forum to assist in any way possible to put the Forum on a solid footing.

An elated NIPF Coordinator, Chief Okokoba, commended Barr. Chinye for his avowed commitment towards the Forum, assuring him and the revolutionary Governor of Rivers State, Governor Amaechi that NIPF would work hard to ensure that both non-indigenes and the entire Rivers State elect an APC Government come 2015.

Other leaders of the Forum present at the meeting were Chief Ade Adeogun, Chairman of Rivers State Sanitation Commission, Mr. David Iyofor, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Amaechi, and Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Alh. Yusuf Tanko, NIPF Secretary, Chief Joseph Udoh, Leader, Akwa/Cross, Chief Solomon Nwonye, NIPF Igbo Leader, Chief Joseph Ijede, Edo/Delta Leader, Alh. Ahmed Adisa, Youth Leader, Alh. Halliru Imam, Hausa Leader, Hausa Leader among others.

•Photo shows NIPF Leader, Barrister Chuma Chinye.