The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has told the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike that he has no legal or moral right to stop the campaign of it’s vice presidential candidate, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi in Rivers State.
The party was reacting to a statement attributed to the minister on Saturday that he would not allow Amaechi to stage his electioneering campaign in the state except he accounts for some alleged misappropriated funds.
ADC, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by it’s state publicity secretary, Chizy Eneyi said, the party would have ignored Wike’s latest political entertainment but have decided to set the records straight.
The statement reads in part: “As a political party, the African Democratic Congress would have ignored this latest episode of political entertainment.
“However, when a serving Minister abandons reasoned political engagement for personal insults, unsubstantiated allegations and threats against an opposition candidate, silence becomes inappropriate.
“We find it rather amusing that a man who served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi and subsequently as a Minister under the same political administration now speaks as though he has only just discovered who Amaechi is”.
ADC said if Wike possessed evidence of the monumental crimes he now alleges, why has he not ensured their prosecution? He was hovernor of Rivers State for eight years, with all the resources and institutional opportunities available to pursue accountability.
“Eight years as governor, yet the evidence apparently only comes out whenever Amaechi speaks. What an extraordinary coincidence!
“We would remind the Honourable Minister that television studios are not courtrooms, political insults are not evidence, and shouting allegations into microphones does not amount to securing a conviction”, the party said.
The statement noted that if Wike has evidence, “let him present it to the appropriate authorities. Nigerians deserve facts, not another episode of political name-calling”.
According to the ADC, the most revealing part of Wike’s outburst was his warning that Amaechi would find it difficult to campaign in Rivers State.
“Difficult to campaign? Since when did Rivers State become a private estate requiring the permission of Nyesom Wike before citizens can exercise their constitutional rights?
“Let us remind the Minister that Rivers State belongs to Rivers people, not to any individual, however powerful he imagines himself to be.
“Amaechi does not require Wike’s permission to visit, campaign or seek the votes of Rivers people. Neither does the ADC.
“We consider this statement particularly troubling given the history of political intimidation and attacks on opposition activities in our state. We therefore call on the relevant security agencies to take note of the Minister’s remarks and ensure that the constitutional rights and safety of all political actors are protected.
“We also find it curious that a Minister entrusted with the administration of the Federal Capital Territory appears to devote so much energy to monitoring the political activities of one man” the statement said.
It said Nigerians may be forgiven for wondering whether Wike’s principal assignment is administering Abuja or supervising Amaechi’s political career, adding that the minister should understand that personal abuse is not a substitute for political debate, and the volume of an accusation does not determine its truth.
“We are focused on presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative, restoring accountable leadership and ensuring that Rivers people can freely choose their leaders without fear.
“If Amaechi is as politically irrelevant as his detractors would have Nigerians believe, why does every statement he makes appear to require an emergency response from Wike?
“Sometimes, the loudest response is the clearest admission that the message has hit home”.
“The party concluded by saying that Rivers State is not anybody’s inheritance. Democracy is not a private franchise. And no Minister holds the licence to determine who may or may not campaign in Rivers State”.