RSG Warns PDP Over Threats On Rally Venue

Rivers State Government has condemned the threat by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to forcefully enter the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, for its presidential rally.
The state government had reportedly refused to approve the state PDP’s application to be allowed to use the stadium for the event, maintaining that the facility was still under construction.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and the PDP have been at daggers drawn over the opposition party’s insistence that it must use the stadium for its rally.
PDP had argued that since the APC had used the stadium for its (APC) presidential campaign, nothing should stop the state government from approving its (PDP) application.
But a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari in Port Harcourt yesterday indicated that the stadium was still under construction.
Semenitari explained that the contractor handling the project, had moved out of site before the APC could hold its rally on December 6, 2014, adding that the contractor had since gone back to work.
Explaining that the stadium was currently unsafe for use, she warned that the state government would not joke with the responsibility to guarantee the safety of lives and property of the people irrespective of the person that was involved.
The statement read, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party that it will force its way into the Rivers State Government-owned Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex to hold its Rivers State presidential rally.”
She said, “At a different time and under different circumstances, the Rivers State Government would have ignored the PDP’s ranting. But with the party’s penchant for violence and its recent bombings of people and property all over the state, it is pertinent that the Rivers State Government raises this alert and sounds a note of warning to the PDP that the Rivers State Government will not trifle with its responsibility to guarantee the safety of lives and property irrespective of whom is affected.
“The matter of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex is a simple one. The complex is still under construction. As a work site, it is an unsafe environment for use at this time. The PDP makes reference to the fact that the APC had held its rally at the same venue. What they failed to mention is that the contractor was moved out of site during the time the APC rally held and remobilised to site right after that rally,” she added.
She pointed out that the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration was working towards ensuring the completion of its projects within the next five months, adding that the state government would not be able to move the contractors out of site.
According to her, the state government has been magnanimous enough to approve for the PDP in the state the use of the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia for its presidential rally.
Semenitari observed that the state PDP’s resolve to unlawfully break into the stadium was a “clear” determination to cause the breakdown of law and order so as to fulfill the threat by some of its members to set the facility ablaze.
“Unlike the PDP that has consistently refused the APC the use of stadia and other facilities in Abuja and other states, where it is in control, the Rivers State Government has magnanimously offered the PDP the use of the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, which is also a state facility.
“The resolve of the PDP to unlawfully break into the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium is therefore a clear determination to create chaos, cause breakdown of law and order, and perhaps, fulfill the threat issued by some of its members that they will burn down the complex,” she stated.
Also reacting, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ikanya said that the Adokiye Amesimaka Sports Complex was still under construction as the state governor was determined to complete it before leaving office.
Reacting to claims by the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State,  Hon. Ibiba Walter,  that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was yet to come out with a reasonable excuse for denying the PDP the use of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Ikanya said that on occasions when the APC used the new stadium for its rallies, the contractor had gone on break, and advised the PDP to re-apply for permission to use the stadium, which he said, might be considered by the state government.
He said, “There are venues for rallies. They have not used that place before. When the contractors were on holidays, they did not apply for the place. Now that the contractors are fully back, they are just applying.
The APC chairman said, “The Executive Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi wants to complete that stadium and hand it over before he leaves office. Now, the PDP is threatening that the governor must obey them. You see, they have now turned themselves to governor of Rivers State.
“If you apply for something, it is either it is approved or not. You cannot take laws into your hands. This is why we are saying that the PDP is living above the law. If they have applied for it and it was not approved, the proper thing to do is to re-apply,” the APC said.
In a reaction, the state Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Felix Obuah had argued that the stadium was built with public funds.
He warned that if the state government failed to voluntarily release the venue, the PDP might use force to secure the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex for its presidential rally.
Obuah said, “Rivers State money was used to build it. It is not meant for Buhari’s campaign manager (Amaechi). It is not his personal property. They have used it for their own rally and their celebration. We have applied to use it for our own rally come 28th of this month but the governor, in his impunity, has refused us to use that place.
“We dare him, come 28th, we are going to use that place. I have made official complaint to the police, the DSS and all the law enforcing agents. I also want all the citizenry of Rivers State to be aware of this. They have used this same property two times without any problem. We are saying for peace to reign, he (Amaechi) has to release that stadium,”? the PDP chairman had threatened.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (middle) listening to an explanation by the doctor at a disease control centre, where Cholera victims are receiving treatment at Ngo, Andoni LGA.