We Can’t Use Public Schools For Campaigns – Atiku Raises Alarm

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Campaign Council of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has raised an alarm that the Rivers State government is denying it access to the public facilities secured for rallies by the local chapter of the party.

The Council’s cry comes on the heels of reports that the PDP State chapter paid a whopping N95 million to get the government’s approval to use public places, especially school premises across the State.

According to the Spokesperson of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Ogbonna Nwuke, the payment is for the places secured to host campaign rallies for the party’s governorship, and national and state House of Assembly candidates.

However, reports indicated that those intending to campaign for their candidate under the auspices of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) as well as other political parties were expected to meet the provisions of Order 21 issued by Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration.

Nwuke explained that the said amount was paid to demonstrate the PDP’s belief in obedience to the laws of the state, saying that no party desiring to use a public facility for rallies, including those campaigning for Atiku under the auspices of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council was above the law of the state and must comply with the order.

He dismissed the reports that the N95 million was paid by Atiku’s campaigners as preposterous and a twisted narrative sponsored by the enemies of the state, noting that the state PDP, led by Governor Wike, paid the money to cover all campaigns for the party’s candidates in line with the provisions of Order 21 issued by his administration.

Available information showed that the N95 million only covered all public facilities the Wike-led PDP had booked to campaign for its state’s candidates, excluding the presidential standard bearer.

The contentious Order requires that any party intending to use public schools for campaigns must apply to the Commissioner for Education and pay a non-refundable fee of N5 million, which will be used to clean, maintain and repair the schools after the rallies.

Nwuke urged the Atiku Campaign Council and other parties to toe a similar path, noting that if the government-controlled party has paid the money, there was no excuse for any other parties or persons to flout the existing order.

Cautioning that no party desiring to use a public facility for rallies, including those campaigning for Atiku under the auspices of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, was above the law of the state, the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council Spokesperson said everyone must comply with the order.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedum Mbom, had through a letter addressed to the Rivers PDP acknowledged the receipt of N95 million from the party leadership.

Mbom said in the letter; “I hereby acknowledge receipt of your deposit of N95 million only into the state government account, being the required precautionary deposit for the use of your indicated public schools’ facilities in Rivers State.

“Sequel to your compliance with the directive as contained in our letter dated 6th December 2022, I hereby convey to you, my approval of your request for the use of State-owned schools’ facilities as indicated in the annexure to your application.”