By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—RIVERS State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has insisted that it will use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Ikwerre Local Government Area for its presidential rally on Wednesday this week.

It will be recalled that the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi had said the stadium would not be released to the party for the rally because contractors had resumed construction work in the place. He rather offered the party the Liberation Stadium in the heart of Port Harcourt, capital of the state.

State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Felix Obuah, who spoke through his media aide yesterday, Mr Jerry Needam, said the party had resolved to use the place, insisting that the reason the governor gave for its refusal to approve the use of the stadium for the rally was not cogent enough.

The party said that the stadium was a public property, adding that it was a project started by the governor when he was in the PDP.

He said: “The Rivers State PDP will not be drawn into further argument with the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government of Amaechi for the use of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its presidential rally.

“Consequently, the PDP confirms that it will host President Goodluck Jonathan on January 28, for the presidential campaign, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

“The flimsy excuses emanating from the APC to justify its refusal to allow the PDP the use of the facility does not hold water as the stadium is the property of Rivers people and not that of Amaechi or APC.

“Besides the fact that APC had used the stadium twice, they do not have any right far and above the PDP to deny us the use of the facility.

“It is pertinent to remind Governor Amaechi and the APC that the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was executed in 2009 when Amaechi was still a member of the PDP. Against this background, the PDP challenges Governor Amaechi to show the Rivers people one project he had executed since his defection to the APC.”

The party called on Rivers people to ignore APC’s antics and turn out enmasse to give President Jonathan a befitting welcome on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Omagwa.