2023: PDP accuses Wike of attacking radio and TV stations
The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of attacking a television station in the state.
The attack happened on Tuesday evening.
Rivers State Police say they received reports that thugs threw an explosive device at the broadcast station premises, causing damage to a generator, a 500 KVA transformer, a transformer power panel and electronics in the radio station (Wish FM 99.5) and its sister television station (Atlantic Television Network).
No lives were lost in the incident, police said.
The two broadcasting stations are owned by a federal legislator from Rivers State, Chinyere Iqwe, who is an ally of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate.
Charles Aniagwu, spokesman for the PDP PCC, said in a statement Wednesday in Lagos that "Governor Wike's continued language and diatribe is what has created the environment for these attacks. Thus making him an accomplice afterwards."
Mr. Aniagwu, who called the attack "damaging to democracy", said it raised concerns ahead of the election.
He said the attacks were orchestrated by state actors and called on security agencies and the international community to pay attention to what was happening in Rivers State.
The attack took place months after the Rivers State government sealed off a gas station owned by the legislature following allegations of involvement in illegal bunkering.
The lawmaker had denied the allegation, saying he was victimized by Governor Nyesom Wike for supporting Atiku.
Police said they sent officers from the explosive ordnance department to the broadcast team “to find out what exactly caused the explosion.”
"Command assures that if the incident was indeed orchestrated by someone or a group, the culprits will be hunted down and face the wrath of the law," said police spokeswoman Grace Iringe -Koko.
Governor Wike contested the PDP presidential primary last year and lost to Atiku. Since then, he and four other PDP governors, under the auspices of the G5, have revolted against Atiku and national PDP leaders. The group claims that in the interests of justice and fairness, the south should produce the next president of Nigeria, since President Muhammadu Buhari is from the north.
Mr. Wike appears to have reached a political deal that would see him back Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in Saturday's election, while Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who is a member of the G5, said his support for Labor Party candidate Peter Obi.
Some Atiku supporters in Rivers State have been arrested or attacked recently, allegedly on the orders of Governor Wike.
Rivers government reacts
Rivers State Information Commissioner Chris Finebone, when contacted on Wednesday, said Mr Wike was 'too busy with governance' to attack people which have no "electoral value".
He called the allegation false.
“The accusation that Gov Wike is behind everything that happens to them is, of course, a lie from the bottomless pit. These individuals have...
The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of attacking a television station in the state.
The attack happened on Tuesday evening.
Rivers State Police say they received reports that thugs threw an explosive device at the broadcast station premises, causing damage to a generator, a 500 KVA transformer, a transformer power panel and electronics in the radio station (Wish FM 99.5) and its sister television station (Atlantic Television Network).
No lives were lost in the incident, police said.
The two broadcasting stations are owned by a federal legislator from Rivers State, Chinyere Iqwe, who is an ally of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate.
Charles Aniagwu, spokesman for the PDP PCC, said in a statement Wednesday in Lagos that "Governor Wike's continued language and diatribe is what has created the environment for these attacks. Thus making him an accomplice afterwards."
Mr. Aniagwu, who called the attack "damaging to democracy", said it raised concerns ahead of the election.
He said the attacks were orchestrated by state actors and called on security agencies and the international community to pay attention to what was happening in Rivers State.
The attack took place months after the Rivers State government sealed off a gas station owned by the legislature following allegations of involvement in illegal bunkering.
The lawmaker had denied the allegation, saying he was victimized by Governor Nyesom Wike for supporting Atiku.
Police said they sent officers from the explosive ordnance department to the broadcast team “to find out what exactly caused the explosion.”
"Command assures that if the incident was indeed orchestrated by someone or a group, the culprits will be hunted down and face the wrath of the law," said police spokeswoman Grace Iringe -Koko.
Governor Wike contested the PDP presidential primary last year and lost to Atiku. Since then, he and four other PDP governors, under the auspices of the G5, have revolted against Atiku and national PDP leaders. The group claims that in the interests of justice and fairness, the south should produce the next president of Nigeria, since President Muhammadu Buhari is from the north.
Mr. Wike appears to have reached a political deal that would see him back Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in Saturday's election, while Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who is a member of the G5, said his support for Labor Party candidate Peter Obi.
Some Atiku supporters in Rivers State have been arrested or attacked recently, allegedly on the orders of Governor Wike.
Rivers government reacts
Rivers State Information Commissioner Chris Finebone, when contacted on Wednesday, said Mr Wike was 'too busy with governance' to attack people which have no "electoral value".
He called the allegation false.
“The accusation that Gov Wike is behind everything that happens to them is, of course, a lie from the bottomless pit. These individuals have...
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