The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says approval has been given to the Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt for the campaign rally of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The governor said the approval was granted at no cost to the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
Wike disclosed this while speaking at the flag-off of the PDP presidential campaign rally in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
He said the PCC would be able to access the stadium two days to the event to verify and put in place what they required for their rally.
He, however, warned the Director-General of the PCC in Rivers State, Dr Abiye Sekibo, not make any attempt to access or take possession of the stadium before the approved date, saying he could change his mind and withdraw the approval.
He warned Sekibo not to provoke the Rivers State government by desperately wanting to take possession of the state-owned stadium weeks to the campaign.
Wike said, “Let me also use this opportunity to warn Abiye Sekibo; we have made approval for your presidential candidate to use Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, February 11.
“You have no right to begin to go to the stadium now. We cannot give you access to the stadium now. We can only give you access to the stadium two days to the occasion for you to prepare.
“Nobody gave you one month. So, if you dare it again, to go and force yourself into the stadium, I will cancel the approval with immediate effect.
“Dare it again, I will cancel it. Heaven will not fall. In fact, if heaven falls now, we will be happy that it was in our time heaven came down.”
Speaking further, he added, “I know you are not ready to do that rally. You are only looking for an excuse. But you must do it. I know you are going to import people; no problems, go and import. We have given you the stadium.”
Wike also took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State for blaming him for the crisis that greeted the campaign of its governorship candidate in Mile One Diobu, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
According to him, the APC was a victim of a brewing crisis between its two factions in Rumu-Woji community.
He wondered why the APC did not encounter crisis during their rallies at the Tipper Park in Etche Local Government and the IYM Secretariat in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Wike said the complaints by the APC showed that it was not ready for the coming election.
He also threw a jab at Senator Andrew Uchendu, saying despite serving in several administrations, he failed to attract development projects to his Mgbuitanwo community.
Wike also said the APC governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole, should concentrate on how to refund the $50m made from the sale of the state’s gas turbines, which he and ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi were accused of diverting.
“Go and bring our money back. We want to use the money to develop the people of Oyigbo, to develop the people of Rivers State,” he said.
Meanwhile, he told the Oyigbo people that the PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, would continue from where his administration will stop and consolidate on the gains made already.
In his remarks, Fubara said if elected his administration would follow in the footsteps of the outgoing government on the slogan of continuity and consolidation.
The Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Felix Obuah, said governor Wike had done so well and Fubara would consolidate on his achievements.
