February 14, (THEWILL) – A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Committee on Media and Publicity, Yusuf Dingyadi, has said the party’s suspension of its presidential rally in Rivers State, was to ensure no loss of lives and property of its supporters in Rivers State.
Dingyadi, who is also the Senior Special Adviser on Media to PDP National Chairman, stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Sokoto on Tuesday.
He also said the party’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, withdrew from his scheduled rally in Rivers State to protect the safety of his supporters after an outburst from the State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, “You know the governor, Nyesom Wike, said he agreed for the rally to be held at the stadium, but with absolute restrictions.
“He (Wike) wants our Presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to just move to the airport after the rally without going around the city or having stakeholders meeting, which can endanger many lives of ordinary Nigerians or supporters of the party moving with him.
He insisted that “it is not that Atiku is afraid of anything concerning his health because he has security officers to cover his movement, but he is concerned about other party members and the level that could put their lives in danger.”
Recall that Wike led 5 governors, who went against the PDP headquarters, and withdrew their support for Atiku Presidency due to the fallout in the party presidential primary election outcome.
“We value our supporters’ lives and their safety more than Campaign shows. Therefore, PCC agrees with the recommendation of the state chapter’s LOC to postpone the occasion till when things are done rightly or we can continue with the grassroots mobilisation through other efforts.”
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
