By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has accused Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River State of trying to frustrate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into extinction in the state.
He said this on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at a campaign rally for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency bye-elections which held at the Calabar Sports Club.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the bye-elections for February 26.
It was learnt that hours before the PDP campaign rally was to begin, police officers acting on the directive of Ayade barricaded the entrance of the sports club in an attempt to stop the rally.
Ayade, a former member of the PDP, degected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021.
In reaction, Gov. Wike, while speaking at the rally, said the PDP in Cross River would have gone extinct if the rally had not held and hailed PDP members for standing against the attempt to stop the rally.
He wondered why a governor will be so bothered about a campaign rally meant for “ordinary” federal and state constituencies that he would try to stop it.
The Rivers Governor said: “When I was told that they don’t want you to hold this rally, I said this rally must hold today, and I must come. Whatever will happen, let it happen today.
“I told your leader that if you do not hold this rally today, that would have been the end of PDP. I thank God, all of you resisted it, and you said enough is enough.”
Speaking further, he assured members of the party that the national chapter of the PDP would provide support for the state chapter who lost state support following the defection of the governor.
“I have come here today to let you know I’m going to give you every support. Don’t be afraid. They tried it in Rivers state, we resisted them. They are trying to instigate fear in you. Don’t be afraid at all. Whatever the Cross River government can do, PDP can do it better.
“I don’t understand how a governor would for ordinary federal constituency election, ordinary state election stop them from holding a rally. When it comes to the governorship, what will happen?
“I thought as a governor with a very high budget, I thought the only way to test whether you have done well for your people — is to allow them to hold the rally and see whether people will go.
“When people don’t go, you will now know that truly my people are with me.”