Rivers State government has denied the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar the use of Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium, Igwurita Ali, Ikwerre Local Government Area, as venue for presidential campaign rally, scheduled for February 11 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Governor Nyesom Wike had a couple of weeks ago, given approval for the use of the stadium for the campaign but with a condition that it would be accessed 48 hours to the event.
In a letter dated January 31, 2023, and addressed to the Director General of Atiku campaign organisation and Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Rivers State Commissioner of Sports, Barrister Christopher Green, said that intelligence revealed that Atiku campaign organisation is collaborating with the governorship candidate of APC , Arch. Tonye Cole, to accommodate and share the approved facility for the presidential campaign.
The content of the letter reads: “refer to our letter of reference no.mos/s/409/s.49./t/15 of 11th, January , 2023 approving the use of the Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium for your presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold on the 11th , February, 2023, credible intelligence available to Rivers State government and recent development now show that your presidential campaign organization is working in collaboration with a faction of APC and its intention of your presidential campaign organization to accommodate and share the approved facility for your campaign with the said faction of APC.
“Government record shows that the activities of the APC in Rivers State have always been marred by violence due largely to irreconcilable internal conflict within the party.”
Barrister Green said that given “credible intelligence” and to expose the stadium to any risk of being damaged, the state government had decided to withdraw the approval for its use for Atiku presidential campaign.
Efforts made by our reporter to speak with the Spokesman of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization in Rivers State, Dr Lenu Nwibubasa, as to whether he had received the letter were unsuccessful as he did not pick calls and did not reply to text the messages sent to his line.
Source: Daily Trust.
