The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday expressed its opposition to the hosting of the August 17, 2016 National Convention of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the state. The party said that it is “deeply worried that, once again, the coffers of Rivers State will be emptied by the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to host a national convention that is bound to be declared a ‘no show’ just like the one the PDP held on Saturday, 21st May, 2016 in Port Harcourt that came to nothing.”

“The APC is further worried that, as a lawyer, Gov. Nyesom Wike and other lawyers in the PDP are the ones shopping for all manner of conflicting court orders regarding their national convention,” Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

Continuing, he said: “The sum total of their actions point to unfettered reign of impunity on August 17 and this is familiar territory for Gov. Nyesom Wike and his co-travellers. However, whenever the dust of the convention settles, the likelihood of the convention being declared a nullity looms.

“However, the utmost concern to the APC is that the Rivers taxpayer is now made to bear the brunt of reviving the dying behemoth called PDP now lying in comatose in hospital and gasping for breath (apologies to former President Obasanjo).

“Our worry heightens when we consider that PDP medical bills are humongous and Gov. Nyesom Wike has elected himself to offset the bills with the funds of Rivers people running into billions of Naira. Sadly, states like Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and others have always acted the wise boys because their governors know that their peoples’ money should not be wasted on frivolities of ill-fated jamborees while Gov. Wike of Rivers State believes that it is obligatory for the Rivers taxpayer to bear the brunt of his inordinate lust for power. But sadly, events within and around the PDP are not providing him the expected returns even as he fritters away scarce resources of the state.”

•Photo shows Governor Wike.