The Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic
Party has reacted to the sealing of the campaign secretariat of its candidate,
Atiku Abubakar, in Rivers State.
The spokesman for the PCC in Rivers State, Dr. Leloonu
Nwibubassa, made the confirmation on Saturday morning.
Nwibubasa said the sealing of the secretariat located at No.
32, Onne Road, new GRA in Port Harcourt, was clearly the handiwork of the
Governor Nyesom Wike led administration to stifle perceived political
opponents.
Nwibubassa said the sealing of the Atiku campaign office had
again shown that Wike had misused his powers as Governor of the state.
He said, “It is very unfortunate and I think that all civil
society groups, the international community, all lovers of democracy all over
the world must understand that Governor Wike has misused his powers as
governor.
“Not just to suppress and oppress, but to intimidate the
people of Rivers State from expressing their free will to support any candidate
of their choice or to be a member of any party of their choice, as expressly
guaranteed in the grand norms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We have condemned it as an act of lawlessness by the
governor.”
The State PDP PCC spokesman further said it was sad that
Wike by his actions did not appreciate what he benefited from, in the present
democracy, having been a two time chairman of a local government in 1999, and
also became a Chief of Staff. He was Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
and completing his second tenure as Governor,” he said.
Nwibubassa however said, “By closing down the political
space in Rivers State; by intimidating and suppressing voices that are in
opposition to his own bidding, Governor Wike is exalting himself to become the
leader of all anti-democratic forces in Nigeria militating against the grand
norms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guarantees freedom of
association, freedom of lawful and peaceful assembly.
“Everything about that secretariat and campaign office,
every requirement has been made.
“So the governor is left with no excuse that the action that he has taken is completely outside the law. It is vindictive. It is against the right of the people,” he added.
Continuing, he said, “So, for us, it is unfortunate and we
think that all well- meaning lovers of democracy should speak out against
Governor Wike’s intent on his actions so far.
“Is it simply that
Governor Wike lost the primary election to clinch the ticket of the PDP or
there are other motives behind Governor Wike to try to truncate the democracy
of Nigeria, using Rivers State as his experimental space?
“We are also aware that there are other governors trying to
do similar thing.
“So if people like Governor Wike are allowed freely
disregard the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by his actions,
by the things he is doing today and if people will copy from his example,
before you know, Nigeria will become a theatre of anarchy, and this is exactly
what everyone must come and condemn and to avoid.”
Meanwhile, a letter from the Rivers State Ministry of
Physical Planning and Urban Development and addressed to the Director-General
of the PCC, gave an insight to the development.
The letter signed by the Director, Physical Planning and
Transport, Stella Enyadike, on behalf of the Commissioner obtained by our
correspondent was titled, ‘Re-application for change in use.’
The letter dated December 19, 2022 read, “We write in
reference to your application for change in use/purpose dated November 28,
2022, for your campaign office at No. 32 Onne Road G.R.A phase 2 Port Harcourt.
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