8th February, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State has explained why it was not excited by Governor Nyesom Wike’s reapproval of the use of Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium for its campaign rally scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on February 11.
Speaking on a Port Harcourt based Radio Station on Wednesday morning, spokesperson of Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Leloonu Nwibubasa, said the organization cannot take Governor Wike by his words his words anymore.
He said this was because of the Governor’s penchant for ‘giving and taking back at will’.
He added that Wike must also properly communicated the reapproval to the leadership of the party, just as he informed them of the revocation.
“The same way the Government wrote to National Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council withdrawing the approval, it should write a formal letter of re-approval.
He said Wike administration’s withdrawal of Certificate of Occupancy of Senator Lee Maeba’s property in GRA area of Port Harcourt because of political differences is an example of the fickleness associated with decision making by the Governor.
Nwibubasa, a Medical Doctor, also recalled that in midst of political differences, Wike stripped Celestine Omehia all the privileges of a former Governor of the state and removed his portrait from the State Executive Chambers.
He noted that Wike also directed Omehia to refund millions of naira earlier paid to him as privileges as a former Governor of the state as recognized by his administration.
Recall that the Rivers state government had in a letter dated 31st January signed by its Commissioner of Sports, Christopher Green, addressed to the Director General of the PDP Presidential campaign and Sokoto state Governor Aminu Tambuwal withdrew the permit it granted the for the use of the stadium for Atiku rally in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Government said it withdrew the permission because it has information that the Campaign council was planning to share the usage of the stadium with Tonye Cole, APC Governorship candidate in Rivers State which may lead to violence.
But the allegation was stoutly denied by the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.
However, Wike had on Tuesday announced that he has reconsidered his stand not to allow the PDP presidential campaign council to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium for its campaign rally in Rivers after some elders in the state appealed to him.