By Our Correspondent

Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, its attention has been drawn to a video clip being circulated in the social/new media lately by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) purporting same to represent Hon. Dr. Barry Mpigi, member representing Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives addressing an unidentified audience.

The APC in statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone said, “It is unfortunate that the PDP and Gov. Nyesom Wike would abandon governance in Rivers State despite several challenges confronting Rivers people to engage in petty melodrama that belong to the waste bin.”

The statement reads: “Port Harcourt and its environs are still ravaged by strange soot believed to be carcinogenic and likely to cause different forms of cancer to residents in the foreseeable future. While residents of the city are helpless about the looming effects of the soot, Gov. Nyesom Wike is busy playing politics and effectively abandoning governance.

“The APC recalls that when the deadly Ebola virus was brought to Port Harcourt in 2014, the then governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi  immediately rolled up his sleeves and got to work in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. The result was that the deadly killer disease was effectively caged, quarantined and eliminated. That feat was possible because the then governor placed premium on governance rather than politics.

“As part of the abandonment of governance in preference for politics, Gov. Wike and the PDP have just opened another page in their unholy book of bad politics by contriving and throwing up a worthless video clip in the face of decent Rivers people and Nigerians all in a bid to blackmail one of the shinning lights of APC in Rivers State, Dr. Barry Mpigi.

“The APC recalls how our members shouted ourselves hoarse during the so-called Amnesty Programme by the governor to the effect that the Ogoni axis was being overlooked by the government in what appeared to be a deliberate act to destroy Rivers South-East through violence because of their unflinching support for the APC. Today, our fears have manifested by the wave of wanton killings and destruction ravaging the area every other day.

“It is obvious that the self-guilt the governor and the PDP are feeling for what is happening in Ogoniland gave rise to the present childish attempt to shift blame for the killings and violence to the doorstep of others. The PDP especially their leaders from Rivers South-East and Gov. Nyesom Wike must take responsibility for the mindless carnage going on in Ogoniland. The governor must live up to the oath of office he took to protect the lives and properties of all citizens and residents of Rivers State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Barry Mpigi has zero tolerance for cultism and any form of violence whatsoever. A million contrived video clips doctored and produced by PDP evil geniuses cannot taint the impeccable character and person of Dr. Barry Mpigi and the APC.”