‘Gov. Wike, you used federal might to seize stadium from Gov. Amaechi in 2015’ – APC

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC says it is nauseating that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, once again, threw caution to the wind and fed members of Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] and other Nigerians a dose of untruths at the opening of the NBA’s 56th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.’

The APC in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Senibo Chris Finebone reiterated that unlike what the governor told the audience at the conference, the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has clearly justified why the Tai LGA rerun election result was accepted and announced after due investigation by the commission just as the commission did for some other results that favour the PDP in other LGAs and constituencies in Rivers State.

“In some cases where the APC was dissatisfied, our candidates went to the tribunal. Good reason suggests that PDP candidates should act in line with the law and not believe they can bully anyone on the matter. We do not live in a jungle here and this is not the 16th Century” the statement stressed.

The APC believed that issues surrounding the intervention of security agents during the botched PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt a week ago are for the security agencies to address but we are miffed that the governor tried to lay the blame at the doorstep of the APC.

The opposition party in Rivers State recalled that despite former governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi offering the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia to the PDP for its rally, the APC would like to remind Gov. Nyesom Wike that on the 24th of January, 2015 he [as PDP governorship candidate] led soldiers to forcefully seize the Adokie Amesimaka Stadium which the then governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was battling to complete before the end of his tenure. Gov. Wike and his party [PDP] then said: “We dare him [Amaechi], because it is not his personal property. On January 28, we are going to use that place. We have made official reports to the police, the DSS (Department of State Services) and all the other law-enforcement agencies.”

This is how one of national newspapers reported it:

“Soldiers seize Rivers stadium for Jonathan’s rally. The oil city of Port Harcourt is on edge after armed soldiers were yesterday drafted to take over the Rivers State Government-owned Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex in Igwuruta, Port Harcourt in readiness for Wednesday’s rally of President Goodluck Jonathan....The Rivers State governorship candidate of the PDP, Nyesom Wike, accompanied by several party leaders, was however let in yesterday to inspect the facility at about 12.55pm.....About 20 soldiers and two Hilux vans were spotted at the complex....”

On PDP botched national convention, the APC called on Governor Nyesom Wike to own up to the gamble he and his Man Friday, Gov Ayo Fayose pulled on their party.

“They should apologise to their party members for imposing Ali Modu Sheriff on them and stop blaming the APC. Gov. Nyesom Wike should accept in good faith some of his recent experiences as the normal wheel of natural justice at play and he can do little about them. The governor should not pretend not to have heard that, in this world, what goes around comes around” the statement concluded.