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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he has no legal or moral authority to stop the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, from campaigning in Rivers State.
The party was reacting to a statement attributed to Wike on Saturday, in which he vowed not to allow Amaechi to campaign in the state unless he accounted for alleged misappropriated funds.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chizy Eneyi, the ADC said it would ordinarily have ignored what it described as “political entertainment”, but could not remain silent in the face of threats against an opposition candidate.
“However, when a serving Minister abandons reasoned political engagement for personal insults, unsubstantiated allegations and threats against an opposition candidate, silence becomes inappropriate,” the party said.
The ADC questioned why Wike, who served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi and later governed Rivers State for eight years, was only now raising allegations of financial impropriety against him.
“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.
“If Wike possessed evidence of the monumental crimes he now alleges, why has he not ensured their prosecution? He was Governor of Rivers State for eight years, with all the resources and institutional opportunities available to pursue accountability,” the statement queried.
The party added: “Eight years as Governor, yet the evidence apparently only comes out whenever Amaechi speaks. What an extraordinary coincidence!”
The ADC maintained that allegations of wrongdoing should be backed by evidence and presented to the appropriate authorities rather than aired through the media.
“Television studios are not courtrooms, political insults are not evidence, and shouting allegations into microphones does not amount to securing a conviction,” it said.
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Reacting to Wike’s warning that Amaechi would find it difficult to campaign in Rivers, the party described the remark as troubling and an attempt to intimidate the opposition.
“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,” it said.
The party called on security agencies to take note of the minister’s remarks and ensure the protection of the constitutional rights and safety of all political actors.
It also questioned Wike’s focus on Amaechi while he was responsible for administering the FCT.
“We 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. Nigerians may be forgiven for wondering whether Wike’s principal assignment is administering Abuja or supervising Amaechi’s political career,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that personal attacks were no substitute for political debate, asking why Amaechi’s comments appeared to provoke such strong reactions from Wike if the former Rivers governor was politically irrelevant.
“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,” it added.
The party concluded that no individual had the right to determine who could campaign in Rivers State.
“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.”
