You're Tinubus agent - Atiku reacts as Wike withdraws stadium approval

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar's Campaign Council in Rivers State has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of deliberately frustrating its efforts to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential flag-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

This was disclosed by the Director General of the PDP PCC in the state, Dr Abiye Sekibo, in a letter dated February 1, 2023, and addressed to Governor Wike, The Punch reports.

This comes after the Rivers State government on Wednesday withdrew the approval earlier given to the PCC to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for Atiku's campaign scheduled for February 11, 2023.

Justifying its decision, the state government said it uncovered plans by the PDP-PCC to accommodate and share the approved facility with a faction of the APC led by the party's governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole.

But, Sekibo insisted that Wike had instructed Local Government Council Chairmen, Special Advisers, Commissioners, Party Executives at the state, local government, and ward levels, and all other appointees of the Rivers State government to campaign for Tinubu.

He accused the Rivers Governor of working relentlessly to ensure that he prevents the emergence of Atiku as Nigeria's president.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to your letter with reference number MOS/C/409/S49/T/17 dated January 31, 2023, and addressed to His Excellency, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council who has minuted the said letter to us for our reaction.

“You stated that credible intelligence available to the Government of Rivers State and recent developments now shows that our presidential campaign organisation is working in collaboration and cohort with a faction of the APC in River State led by Tonye Patrick Cole and that it is the intention of our campaign organisation to accommodate and share the approved facility for our campaign with the said faction of the APC.

“We wish to state as follows in reply: We completely deny your assertion as patently false and perverse and we believe that our highly respected security agencies cannot furnish you with such untrue and unfounded lies.

“That the PDP Presidential Campaign Council has nothing whatsoever to do with the APC in Rivers State.

“That it is appalling and highly preposterous for you or anyone to assume that the PDP and APC could jointly hold an event in the same venue.

“We believe that the only reason for this cancellation is Your Excellency’s notice of our massive mobilisation and total acceptance of Waziri Atiku Abubakar as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the people of River States.

“However we are rather aware by credible information reaching us that Your Excellency has directed all Local Government Council Chairman, Special Advisers, Commissioners, Party Executives at the state, local government, and ward levels, and all other appointees of yours to work for the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu even though you have not had the courage to announce same to the people of Rivers State.

“Your general public utterances, innuendos and conduct have pointed to the fact that you are bent on frustrating and if possible, preventing the emergence of the PDP Presidential candidate, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Waziri Adamawa, as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Finally, your involvement in the so-called G5 is the height of anti-party activity.

“It is therefore surprising that you are now accusing us of hobnobbing with the APC faction in River State.”