The African Democratic Congress has slammed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his recent comments that the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, would not be allowed to campaign in Rivers State.

The party stated that Wike has no right whatsoever to stop Amaechi from coming to campaign in the oil-rich state where he once served as governor for eight years.

The party was reacting to comments made by Wike during a news briefing in Abuja earlier in the week, where he warned that Amaechi might not be permitted to campaign in Rivers State if he continued to criticise President Bola Tinubu and his supporters.

Wike had accused Amaechi of spending millions of dollars to fumigate the state against malaria when he was governor and also alleged that the former governor sold state-owned gas turbines.

The ADC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chizy Enyi, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said the party would have ignored what it termed the latest episode of political entertainment, but for the weight of the remarks.

Recalling the briefing, Wike had said of Amaechi, “A man who will go and fumigate a state against malaria for 10 million US dollars, about N14 billion.”

“A man who will sell the gas turbine of a state for 308 million US dollars, which is not less than N419 billion today, and you people will allow him to appear in your different media houses?”

“To call the President a thief and those who will support the President are thieves. If he continues in this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers, and I want everybody to go and write it down because we will not take that. We will not.”

However, the ADC spokesperson stated that when a serving minister abandons reasoned political engagement for personal insults, unsubstantiated allegations, and threats against an opposition candidate, silence becomes inappropriate.

“We find it rather amusing that a man who served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi and subsequently as a minister under the same political administration now speaks as though he has only just discovered who Amaechi is,” Enyi said.

Enyi further challenged the minister, asking, “If Wike has proof of the monumental crimes he now alleges against his former boss, why has he not ensured prosecution?”

“He was Governor of Rivers State for eight years, with all the resources and institutional opportunities available to pursue accountability.”

“Eight years as governor, yet the evidence apparently only comes out whenever Amaechi speaks. What an extraordinary coincidence!”

“We would remind the honourable minister that television studios are not courtrooms, political insults are not evidence, and shouting allegations into microphones does not amount to securing a conviction,” the statement added.

The party further stated that if Wike has evidence, he should present it to the appropriate authorities, noting that Nigerians deserve facts rather than another episode of political name-calling.

According to the statement, the most revealing part of Wike’s outburst was his warning that Amaechi would find it difficult to campaign in Rivers State.

“Difficult to campaign? Since when did Rivers State become a private estate requiring the permission of Nyesom Wike before citizens can exercise their constitutional rights?”

“Let us remind the minister that Rivers State belongs to Rivers people, not to any individual, however powerful he imagines himself to be.

“Amaechi does not require Wike’s permission to visit, campaign, or seek the votes of Rivers people. Neither does the ADC.”

“We consider this statement particularly troubling given the history of political intimidation and attacks on opposition activities in our state.”

“We therefore call on the relevant security agencies to take note of the minister’s remarks and ensure that the constitutional rights and safety of all political actors are protected.”

“We also find it curious that a minister entrusted with the administration of the Federal Capital Territory appears to devote so much energy to monitoring the political activities of one man.”

The party added that Nigerians may be forgiven for wondering whether Wike’s principal assignment is administering Abuja or supervising Amaechi’s political career, noting that personal abuse is no substitute for political debate.

“We are focused on presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative, restoring accountable leadership, and ensuring that Rivers people can freely choose their leaders without fear,” the ADC stated.

“If Amaechi is as politically irrelevant as his detractors would have Nigerians believe, why does every statement he makes appear to require an emergency response from Wike?”

“Sometimes, the loudest response is the clearest admission that the message has hit home.

“Rivers State is not anybody’s inheritance. Democracy is not a private franchise. And no minister holds the licence to determine who may or may not campaign in Rivers State,” the statement concluded. (The PUNCH)