PDP, Amaechi At War Over President Jonathan Campaign Venue In Port Harcourt

Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has refused to approve President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 maintaining that the facility is still under construction.

He disclosed this during the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign at Etche on Thursday, January 22, 2015 through a local radio programme in Port Harcourt.

This decision has generated lots of controversies between the governor and members of People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Adressing the issue, the state PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, in a state­ment issued by his Spe­cial Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, said PDP could no longer overlook the threat, as Amaechi has revealed the depth of his hatred against the presi­dent.

Obuah said: “The par­ty regrets that rather than issues-based campaigns, Amaechi has made it a habit to cast aspersions on Mr. President every­where he goes for cam­paigns and as though these are not enough, he went on a radio live programme on Thursday, January 22, 2015, to threaten fire and brimstones, should the PDP go ahead to hold any rally for President Jonathan at the State-owned Amasiea­maka Stadium”.

“There is a dif­ference between him (Amaechi) and the state and by extension, state-owned institutions, and should stop acting as though these institutions are his personal property.

“Regrettably, the only reason he has given for refusing the PDP the use of the new stadium is that he is the Governor and has the right to say No. This is outright turning himself to the ‘State’, which is wrong and anti-demo­cratic”, the PDP noted.

“While we do not wish to join issues with Amaechi, we also make bold to say that Amaechi’s threats are a pointer to plans to cause breach of the peace and order”.