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By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
The campaign council of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State Chapter, has described Senator Lee Maeba, spokesman of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council in the state as hiding under a tissue of lies to destabilize and create fear and unrest in the state.
Speaking at a pressing briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday, spokesman of the New Rivers Vision Campaign Council, campaign team of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke, frowned at what he described as uncouth and unethical behavior of “certain political renegades who are manning the Atiku (Abubakar) campaign in Rivers State.”
Nwuke accused Maeba of “claiming in chats with the media that there are plans by the Rivers PDP to dress up some persons in branded T-shirts bearing the face of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in order to destroy or deface billboards and posters.
“We have similarly learnt through the media of a move by the PDP to recruit 20 political thugs in each of the 23 local government areas of Rivers State who would be used to intimidate innocent and defenseless citizens,” Nwuke said.
He however pointed out that despite claims that supporters of the PDP in the state that are loyal supporters of Governor Wike are pulling down or defacing billboards, carrying the faces of candidates of other political parties, such billboards “including those that are aspiring for the presidency, are standing elegantly along major roads and streets,” adding that the media is at liberty “to confirm whose posters are being torn by agents of the Atiku campaign organization.
“Our position is that agents of the presidential candidate have resorted to underhand practices in an attempt to stir distrust and unrest in Rivers State.
“We have stumbled upon a plan by the pro-Atiku group led by a War Canoe chief, supported by some rogue politicians who believe in divide and rule tactics, to use murderers, assassins and ex-prisoners to inflict bodily harm on innocent and defenseless Rivers people
“The idea, we have learnt, is to destabilize a peaceful state, create fear and unrest and cause public disaffection through the generation of bare-faced terror and mind-boggling violence,” he said.
Nwuke said “The idea is to cover up their evil plan to attack the state, stimulate tension and attempt to halt the ongoing and commendable bid by Governor Nyesom Wike to deliver more facilities to the good people of Rivers State in accordance with his electoral promises.
“As part of the plan, they are already running on the theory of the big lie by fabricating all kind of tales, so they can later claim they told us so. In their desperation, they have even claimed that we are assembling thugs.”
Nwuke noted that Atiku’s spokesman, by his utterances shows that does not understand the intendment of the Electoral Act and the content therein.
“Votes will count in this election. The people will decide who rules them. Election results shall be transmitted electronically. NEC has introduced BVAS, meaning that only those who are qualified to vote will take part in the forthcoming elections.
“The hijack of poling boxes has become obsolete. No one can write results. That practice has become archaic. So, what will thugs do?
“Besides, the Wike administration has surpassed all expectations in terms of project delivery. The Rivers people know this, the Nigerian people appreciate this fact and the Federal Government has acknowledged this reality.
“Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta who have pitched camps with some candidates as we prepare for election are doing their best to campaign reasonably and peacefully. They are refusing to be dragged into the fray by blood thirsty politicians who are incidentally working for Atiku.
“Let us even for one second considers statistical data. Atiku’s spokesman in Rivers State is claiming that the Rivers PDP of which he is part is recruiting 20 thugs per LGA. Some LGAs like Khana and Etche have at least 19 wards. Is Atiku’s spokesman saying that every ward will have an average of one thug each? If this is correct, what impact will one or two thugs have in a ward comprised of so many electoral units,” he asked.
The Rivers PDP campaign spokesman said no amount of veiled threat “will deter us from going ahead with our mission as the party of Rivers people. Our mission is to keep Rivers people safe, build sustainable Infrastructure which will drive the Rivers economy, and grow commerce and industry by establishing a robust partnership with the organized private sector.
“Taking these attainments to higher levels is the task before Sir Siminialayi Fubara. We are glad that in Sim we have a competent administrator, an experienced technocrat, and a man with a heart of gold who understands the civil service and his fellow Rivers people,” he said.