Prince Uche Secondus, a former national chairman of the PDP, criticized the Rivers State Government’s closure of the Atiku/Okowa campaign office in Port Harcourt as an abuse of authority and a display of immature behavior.

According to Secondus, those in positions of authority should remember that no matter how long it lasts, everyone will have to answer to God for their stewardship.

Since the party’s presidential primary in May, the state governor, Nyesom Wike, has been at odds with Atiku Abubakar, the party’s nominee, and Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman.

There had been little success in mediating the conflict between the Atiku camp and the Wike group, also known as the Integrity Group, which insisted that Ayu resign as chairman.

The state government denied the PDP State Campaign Management Committee’s request to use its property in Port Harcourt’s GRA Phase 2 as a campaign office in a widely circulated letter dated December 19, 2022, issued to the committee.

According to the government’s statement in the letter signed by the Director of Physical Planning and Transport on behalf of the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, “GRA I and II is designated for residential purpose; therefore, the use of the property as a campaign office is in contrast to the designated use.”

The government subsequently sealed the premises on Thursday, a development that has been condemned by some persons.

Reacting to the development, Secondus, who also hails from the state, said, “The sealing of the Atiku campaign office in Rivers State is childish. It doesn’t portray us as democrats and lovers of peace. We must do everything possible to show the world that we are a non-violent people who believe in the rule of law.

“We must not constitute ourselves as a hindrance to the rule of law and we must remember that power is transient. We must know that only God Almighty is omnipresent and who reigns forever. No matter how long, every power wielded by men will expire.

“Let us exercise the powers given to us by the people with a sense of responsibility and care, knowing and believing that one day, we shall not only leave the position but also give account of our stewardship to God Almighty.”

Secondus, however, appealed to the people of the state to remain peaceful and go about their campaigns and business without rancour.

Similarly, the Presidential Campaign Council of the PDP in Rivers State described the sealing of the secretariat as unfortunate, saying all the necessary requirements to use it were met.

The spokesperson for the PCC, Dr Leloonu Nwibubassa, said, “I think all civil society groups, the international community and lovers of democracy all over the world must understand that Governor Wike has misused his powers as the governor of Rivers State.

“We have condemned it as an act of lawlessness by the governor, having promulgated executive orders smuggled to the state House of Assembly through the back door to stamp it as a law.”