From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said that it is an act of anti-party on the part of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to tell lawyers handling legal suits on behalf of the PDP in the state to dissociate themselves from the cases.
The PDP in Rivers State had taken some political parties in the state to court over non-compliance to the regulations and laws of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of their various primaries.
Governor Wike made the accusation against the national leadership of the party when he spoke at State School Premises, Okehi 1, the venue of the Rivers State PDP campaign flag-off rally in Etche Local Government Area on Monday.
He said instead of the PDP national leadership supporting the suits by the PDP in Rivers, it has asked lawyers handling the various legal matters to withdraw legal representations.
The Rivers State governor stated that anti-party begets anti-party and since the PDP national has started the anti-party game, it will get anti-party in return.
“We have caught them. They are the ones engaged in anti-party. I told them anti-party begets anti-party. You know we carried these small parties (APC, SDP) to court for failing to do what the law says.
“The people in Abuja that say they are national have gone to collude with them (opposition parties) to write our lawyers a letter that they should take their hands off, in order to kill the cases we filed. I have told our lawyers to withdraw from the matter. I will hit them back by tomorrow.
“Nobody hurts us without sustaining a scar. Anybody who dares to touch us in Rivers State, I will inflict many scars on him and we have started it. We are voting for our people here. Now you have told us you are doing anti-party. We will show you what anti-party is. Already, we have caught them red-handed.”
Governor Wike emphasised that the forthcoming election is a battle that must be won, and urged Etche people to go home, get prepared by collecting the remainder of their Permanent Voters Card with INEC and vote for all PDP candidates in the state.
The governor stressed that the PDP in Rivers is a formidable squad, fully prepared for the election and it has all that it takes to ensure that the election is peaceful, with winning votes secured for all its candidates.
Speaking further, Governor Wike thanked the Etche people for their massive turnout at the rally, which demonstrates that they are fully in support of the PDP in Rivers State.
He pointed out that by all ramifications, the PDP-controlled state government has kept every promise made to them since 2015. These are in the delivery of over eight critical road infrastructures, the establishment of a campus of Rivers State University in the area and the appointment of their son as Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
Governor Wike urged them to vote for Sir Siminialayi Fubara as his successor to consolidate the gains of his administration.
In his speech, Rivers State governorship candidate of the PDP, Siminialayi Fubara, solicited bulk votes from Etche people to enable him and the entire consolidation team to win.
He explained that when elected, his administration will ensure that the closure of courts in the state is never experienced again.
Fubara also assured that there shall be sustained regular payment of workers and assets owned by the state are never sold to cronies of those in power.
The PDP governorship candidate said he is sure of winning the March 11th election because of his competence, and understanding of the new Rivers Vision of governor Wike, which serves as the foundation for his administration.
Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Desmond Akawor, who presented party flags to the candidates contesting for the various positions, urged the people to vote for them.
The Director General of Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council, Felix Obuah, said the Etche people have been better off under the administration of Governor Wike. It is on that account that he urged them to remain resolved to deliver votes in bulk for the PDP.
Former Etche council chairman, Nnamdi Okere said the forthcoming election is about showing gratitude and love to governor Wike, whose administration has benefited Etche land and people.
The candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District, Allwell Nyesoh, spoke on behalf of the candidates, accepting the responsibility of flying the party’s flag and pledging that they would provide quality representation, following in the footsteps of Governor Wike.
Earlier, Governor Wike had visited Ochie of Etche Land, Onye-Isi Etche, king Emmanuel NB Opurum at his palace in Ndashi to acquaint the king of the flag off of PDP campaign in Etche Local Government Area.