By Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign Council in Rivers has dismissed allegation that it is recruiting thugs to violently attack of members of the party campaigning for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the state.
The Spokesman of Rivers PDP Campaign Council, Ogbonna Nwuke, made the denial while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Nwuke was reacting to claims by the spokesperson of Atiku the Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers, Leloonu Nwibubasa, that Rivers PDP dressed up some peoples in branded T-shirts bearing the face of the former Vice President and used them to destroy or deface billboards and posters
He also disputed the claims that the hoodlums who allegedly attacked the Port Harcourt residence of Senator Lee Maeba, the Chairman of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers last Thursday were agents and supporters of Governor Wike.
During the attack on Maeba’s house, cars parked at his garage were willfully vandalized while one of his relations was injured and hospitalized.
Nwibubasa had also alleged in a media chat media that the leadership of Rivers PDP is planning to recruit 20 political thugs in each of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State that would be deployed to intimidate innocent and defenseless citizens ahead of the 2023 elections.
But while disputing the allegations, the Rivers PDP spokesperson accused members of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council of feeding the people of the state with ‘unbridled falsehood’ while Governor Nyesom Wike was busy commissioning and flagging off new projects in parts of the State.
He said the allegations are as “as worthless as the paper on which they are written because there had not been any time did supporters of the PDP in the State that are loyal supporters of Governor Wike pulled down or defaced billboards, carrying the faces of candidates of other political parties, including those that are aspiring for the presidency, are standing elegantly along major roads and streets”.
PDP said agents of the presidential candidate have resorted to underhand practices in attempt to stir distrust and unrest in Rivers State ahead of the election.
“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.”
Nwuke who was a former Commissioner for Information Communications in Rivers said the allegation that the PDP is planning to recruit 20 political thugs for operation in each Local Government Area of the state is illogical.
“Is 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?”
He claimed that the spokesperson of Atiku demonstrated limited knowledge and crass ignorance of the the Electoral Act and the content therein included to ensure that votes will count in the 2023 election.
“INEC has introduced BVAS, meaning that only those who are qualified to vote will take part in the forthcoming elections. The hijack of polling boxes have 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 PDP campaign Council said supporters of Atiku and the federal government have acknowledged the enviable scorecard of Governor Wike in project delivery to the people of the state.
“Armed with the kind of scorecard that Governor Wike has put on the table, the goodwill that the PDP in Rivers State is enjoying, what do we need thugs for?”, he queried.
He therefore advised Atiku supporters to go about selling the PDP presidential pandidate instead of contemplating violence.
Nwuke added that the sterling performance of Governor Wike will make it very easy to market Siminalayi Fubara, the PDP Governorship candidate, to Rivers people.
He added that Fubara will also fulfill his part of the social contract and consolidate on the achievements recorded in the new ‘Rivers Vision’ as enunciated by Governor Wike.
He revealed that on Sunday, the PDP led by Wike who is the Chairman of the Campaign Council will dedicate the campaign of the party for 2023 election to God to formerly kick start the political campaigns.
