26th January, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state has lashed at President Goodluck Jonathan for encouraging forceful entry into a state government stadium with full complements of the armed forces.
The governor said the forceful entry into the state owned Adokiye Amasiemaka stadium for his presidential rally is a dress rehearsal of what to expect during next month’s election where the three armed forces would do the bidding of the PDP.
Amaechi was reacting to the forceful takeover of the stadium with the help of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police after the state government refused to grant the request of the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to use the stadium because it is still under construction.
He alleged that the pledge by Jonathan to Nigerians and the international community that we will have a free and transparent election were votes would count without the forceful use of the armed forces to rig the elections is mere “wishful thinking”.
Amaechi had vowed not to grant approval for the PDP presidential rally because twice that All Progressives Congress (APC) used the venue, the contractor was compelled to pull its equipment out of the stadium at great cost to the state government.
However, the state chapter of PDP and Nyesom Wike, the party governorship candidate would take none of the state government’s excuses for it refusal to release the stadium, rather they see it as political, hostile and disrespectful to Jonathan.
Backed by a full compliment of the armed forces, Wike and the leaders of the party were in the stadium to inspect the facilities there. Since then,the security agencies have taken over the stadium.
The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it would not be drawn into further argument with the APC government of Rotimi Amaechi for the use of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its presidential rally.
Consequently, the PDP confirms that it would host Jonathan on Wednesday 28 January 2015 for the presidential campaign, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
The party noted that the flimsy excuses emanating from the APC to justify its refusal to allow the PDP use the facility does not hold water as the stadium is the property of Rivers people and not that of Amaechi or APC.
The PDP further noted that besides the fact that APC had used the stadium twice, they do not have any right far and above the PDP to deny it (PDP) the use of the facility.
The party said in a statement signed by Jerry Needam, the Media aide to Felix Obuah. PDP stated that the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was executed in 2009 when Amaechi was still a member of the PDP.
Against this background, the PDP challenges Governor Amaechi to show the Rivers people one project he had executed since his defection to the APC.
The party called on Rivers people to ignore the antics of Amaechi and the APC and turn out en masse to give President Jonathan a befitting welcome on at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Omagwa on 28 January.