Executive Order 21: We Can’t Pay N5M To Campaign In Rivers, APC Candidate Dares Wike

*Only Anarchist Disobeys Law, Wike’s Aide

Agency Report

The major contender in the forthcoming 2023 governorship election in Rivers state, Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has made it clear that he would not comply with the Executive Order 21 of the State Government prohibiting political parties from holding campaigns and rallies using any public facilities without the payment of N5million security fee.

Cole described as “obnoxious” the signing into law the Executive Order 21 by Governor Nyesom Wike, saying that such action was directed at stifling the political space for the opposition parties in the state.

“We have noticed with great dismay the unfortunate attempt by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to stifle the political space for opposition political parties in Rivers State with his recent signing into law an obnoxious Executive Order 21, which prohibits the use of public schools, built by taxpayers money of Rivers people, for political parties’ event without the prior approval of the state ministry of education (not the school authority vested with the authority to manage the facilities) and the payment of an obscene unrefundable (sic) amount of N5 Million”.

In a statement signed by Barr Sogbeye ElI, spokesman of Tonye Cole Campaign Organization, the APC governorship candidate, said that the decision was a scheme by the Governor to suppress and crush opposition parties even before the elections proper.

“We state unequivocally that Executive Order 21 is deliberate and part of the plot by the Governor to stifle competition from other political parties.

“It is another manifestation of his penchant to brutally crush and suppress opposition in a multi-party democracy instead of allowing citizens exercise their freedom of choice as enshrined in the Constitution. We are therefore not surprised that Wike would tow this path in his resolve to impose a lackey on Rivers State as his successor in office”.

Cole noted that it was highly unfortunate that while the rest of the nation under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership is opening up the electoral space for the free and fair participation of everybody regardless of political, religious or tribal inclinations, the Rivers State government is refusing to embrace change and attempting to take the state back to the dark era.

He warned the Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Councils in the State who have been directed by the Governor to enforce the directive under Executive Order 21 not to allow themselves to be misled by the government by enforcing the order.

The campaign organization however vowed that “the All Progressives Congress shall campaign with our candidates across the length and breadth of Rivers State as provided under the Constitution and as prescribed by law.

“We will neither succumb to intimidation nor accept the presentation of a fait accompli by Executive Order 21 to political parties other than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform they and the Governor were elected in the first place.

“We draw the attention of those to whom it may concerned that the enforcement of that Order howsoever by the Council Chairmen would amount to a brazen affront on our constitutional rights as political parties and a campaign organization.

“We urge them to resist the lure of exercise of power that can only result in anarchy from the resistance of the parties and candidates targeted by the obnoxious Executive Order 21”.

On the de-recognition of Sir Celestine Omehia as the former Governor of the state, the Tonye Cole organization said the decision could not be said to be a case of restoring legality as claimed by the Governor.

“The de-recognition of Omehia cannot be said to be a restoration of any legality. This de-recognition arose not as a correction of any past wrong or error. It is a display of punitive arrogance which is incompatible with the Rivers State we plan to lead”.