Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said his administration will use the law to jail politicians, who disobey Executive Orders 21 and 22.
Executive Order 21 prohibits political parties in the state from using public school premises for political rallies without approval and payment of N5m non-refundable security fee; while Order 22 bans the use of premises, buildings and sundry structures in residential areas as campaign offices by political parties without government approval.
The governor noted that some politicians were boasting that with the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police on their side, the Executive Orders were inconsequential and could be disobeyed.
But Wike dared such politicians to disobey the Executive Orders and risk being jailed. Wike stated this, yesterday, at the inauguration of the Ahoada-Omoku Dual Carriageway in Ahoada Council.
“I didn’t say nobody should use primary and secondary schools for campaigns. All I have said is if you want to use primary and secondary schools for your campaigns, you deposit money. So that if you use the place and spoil anything in the school, government will use the money to repair those things you spoilt and clean up the school.
“There are those, who say they would disobey and no person would do anything. If you do disobey, you know where you will be.”
Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, explained that the Executive Orders seek to regulate the conduct of political activities to curb nuisance and promote public peace.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council Chairman in the state, Sogbeye Eli, said the governor’s threat would not have any effect.
He said: “The present government is confused. You cannot execute two same orders same time, Orders 21 and 22 are same. I advise the governor to seek advice from his attorney general because he’s confused.”
Also reacting, Social Democratic Party spokesman in the state, Esedi Joe, said the Executive Orders were not in tandem with the country’s Constitution, hence cannot have any effect.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the All Progressives Congress in the state for withdrawing a suit filed against Order 21 and Order 22.
Spokesman for the Consolidation of the New Rivers Vision Campaign Council, Ogbonna Nwuke, said APC’s resolve to withdraw the matter was borne out of the understanding that the matter brought before Justice Emmanuel Obile was frivolous, defective and baseless.
“We want to congratulate the APC for doing what is right by withdrawing a frivolous and inconsequential suit brought against Orders 21 and 22.
“For once, the APC has told the Rivers people the truth. The truth is that it deliberately attempted to mislead public opinion by going to court.”
