Governor Nyesom Wike has clarified that the Rivers State government cancelled the approval given for the use of Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in order to safeguard the facility from vandalism.
The governor gave the clarification at the flag-off rally of the Rivers State PDP campaign for Degema Local Government Area that held at Agri Field in Degema town, yesterday.
Governor Wike described the claim that Rivers State government does not want PDP Presidential Campaign Council to campaign in the state as erroneous, since the state had earlier given approval to the party to use the stadium at no cost.
He said: “Don’t say we stopped them from holding rally; we didn’t. They applied to me and I gave Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. They now went back and began to meet with the faction of the opposition, and you know that opposition has never held any rally without violence.
“And I said I cannot joke with Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. Since we have this intelligence, we will not allow it. Did anybody force us to give them before? Are we not the ones who gave them? Did they pay money? Go and see the place. I know they are happy because they know there is no way they can fill that stadium. Instead of them to say thank God for covering our shame.”
He declared that the unit-by-unit mobilisation of voters adopted by the PDP in the state was one of the strategies that would make it difficult for security agencies to rig the 2023 general election in the state.
The governor maintained that the electorate will participate in the forthcoming election with unit-by-unit mobilisation, which will ensure that every vote counts.
Wike also said that his administration had delivered several development projects in the area in appreciation of the support Degema people have given to the PDP since 1999.
The governor stressed that his administration promised to execute phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road, which has begun and construction work had progressed tremendously.
According to the governor, the commissioning of the first phase would be done later in the month.
Wike assured that when his successor, Siminialayi Fubara is voted into power, he would pay start the phase two of the Trans-Kalabari Road and would also be reconstructing educational facility in Degema town among other life-touching projects.