Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
As the Rivers political space continues to heat up ahead of the 2023 general elections with many intrigues playing out, the state government has revealed plans by some persons to blackmail Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
The revelation was made by the state commissioner for information and communications, Chris Finebone, shortly after the state executive council meeting in the government house, Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
“Government has uncovered sinister plans by political detractors of the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the governor, using faceless persons that can be seen in this document which is now in the possession of the Rivers State Government.
“This is evidence of the plot to blackmail Governor Wike and it’s titled: Proposal for #EndWikeRascalityProgramme,” Finebone said, while displaying the document to journalists.
He said it was important to alert Nigerians about the plot and to warn those behind it to retrace their steps or be ready to face the full weight of the law.
“It’s important we warn them; it’s also important we warn Nigerians about this…I can assure you that the governor and the G5 will rise to the occasion,” the commissioner said.
Although the state government did not reveal the identities of those behind the plot, rumours are rife that the government’s outcry may not be unconnected with the vote-buying allegation made against top politicians in Rivers State by members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council working for Atiku Abubakar in Rivers.
The spokesperson of the campaign council in Rivers State, Dr. Lenoonu Nwibubasa, disclosed this in a signed press statement on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the State capital.
Nwibubasa said: “We inform Rivers people about a sinister plot, already hatched by top politicians in Rivers State, to buy up the permanent voter’s cards of our citizens in order to deny them the opportunity to vote.
“This is ongoing in every local government; top politicians in every local government have been briefed to ensure that they buy up voter’s cards from members of the public.
“We, therefore, want to bring this information to dear citizens of our State that under no condition, including threat and financial inducement, should you relegate your fundamental right of casting your votes in the upcoming election by selling out your permanent voter’s cards to any individual.”
“We also want to call the attention of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, that there is a serious plan to receive bulk PVCs during the period of distribution from various INEC offices across Rivers State capital in the guise that they will take it to the constituencies and the wards to share.
“Reports reaching us is that those PVCs will not get to the owners and they are going to seize them, ensuring that they disenfranchise Rivers people.”
