The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, for what it considers to be falsehood sold to members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other Nigerians at the opening of the NBA’s 56^th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.

A statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt, signed by Rivers APC State Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone, states that “The APC wishes to reiterate 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 favoured 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 16^th Century.

“We believe 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.

“We recall 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 24^th 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.’”

The statement further quoted national newspapers as having reported that “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 the PDP botched national convention, the APC called on Governor 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.”

•Photo shows Governor Wike.

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