All Progressives Congress, APC, Tuesday, refused to present governorship flag to Tonye Cole when the Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Campaign train berthed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in compliance with the two Supreme Court judgments.
The apex court had ruled that APC in Rivers should not field governorship, National Assembly and House of Assembly candidates during the Saturday’s and March 2 general elections and on Tuesday quashed the stay of execution granted the party by the Federal High Court on the grounds that primaries were not conducted by the party.
Both President Buhari and party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, ignored the cheering supporters at the crowded Adokiya Amesieamaka Stadium, venue of the campaign rally in presenting Cole with the governorship flag.
Addressing the party supporters, Buhari said: “I am disturbed that we are not allowed to participate in some of the positions in some part of the country. I have to respect the institutions. Be patient and resolute. We are going to ensure that justice is done.”
Counting on the Rivers APC support in Saturday’s election, the President said he has kept his 2015 promises of fighting corruption, ensuring food security and dealing with insurgency, promising on reelection, to remain steadfast, and be accountable to God and the people.
Earlier in a welcome appeal, Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Rivers APC Chairman, had appealed to the President to intervene in the situation the party had found itself.
“There’s a deliberate attempt to deny Rivers people the right to choose the kind of governor, senators, reps and state lawmakers we want to lead us in the coming elections,” he said.
In his speech at the rally, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Tonye Cole, pledged his support to the APC and Buhari, in spite of his predicament.
He said: “We stand without fear. The people you see here are determined. No matter what has been done, no what they do, we will stand and deliver APC in Rivers. We are not going to disappoint you.”
Whatever Wike wants we will give to him – Amaechi
Transport Minister and Director General, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, vowed to lead the party to the election fire-for-fire with the incumbent governor.
Amaechi said: “Let me talk the way you haven’t seen me talk for some time. I am not following you (President) to Abuja again. I am staying here (Rivers). Whatever Wike wants on Saturday, we will give him. He is afraid, not so?”
Amaechi recalled his trials before, during the 2015 governorship election, including perceived withdrawal of his security details as a sitting governor and the weight of federal might against him, vowing to face Wike head on this time around.
“They got a High Court judge to say some things. We will battle him to the last minute. There comes a point when you can no longer allow being pushed.
”Whatever PDP wants we are equal to it. I say this, 80% of those who have made success in Rivers politics today passed through me, including Wike.”
There’s huge gap between judgement and justice -Oshiomhole
Regretting the restraint on presenting the Rivers APC flag to Cole, party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole said: “There can be a huge gap between judgment and justice. Cole is the governor in the heart of Rivers people. We are committed to justice in Rivers.
“There is much effort to prevent our party and award positions to PDP. Our right to choose our persons could be frozen, but cannot be taken. Those who laugh in the morning may cry at the end of the day. PDP is laughing too early. They may cry in the end.”
Oshiomhole praised the “fighting spirit of Rivers APC” for remaining supportive and turning out in large numbers at the rally, in spite of the court setbacks.
He charged them to come out on Saturday to vote between a President (Buhari) who believes in uplifting the poor and another man (Atiku) he accused of fighting to benefit only the rich and privileged few in Nigeria.
Abe shunned, harassed
Meanwhile, Sen. Magnus Abe, parallel claimant to Rivers APC governorship ticket at Tuesday’s rally, was not recognised at the podium and his supporters were harassed.
Unlike Cole who received rousing welcome and addressed the President and the entire gathering, Abe and his supporters on arrival at the Adokiya Amasieamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt rally ground were greeted with a bout of fisticuff.
Unfortunately, Abe and teeming cheering supporters who arrived the stadium about 12.30 p.m. were given cold reception. The private security details mobilised by the Ojukaye-led Rivers APC, loyal to the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, barred supporters of Abe from escorting him beyond the floor as he ascended the VIP stand of the stadium.
It took the quick intervention of mobile policemen to calm the situation, but not before some of Abe’s men had been molested and thrown out of the VIP area.
