Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said his administration will use the instrumentality of the law to jail politicians who want to disobey the Executive Orders 21 and 22.
The Executive Orders prohibit political parties from using public school premises for their political rallies without requisite approval and payment of N5 million non-refundable security fee as well as using residential areas for political party offices.
The governor who spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Ahoada/ Omoku road project said some politicians were already boasting that with the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police on their side, the executive orders were inconsequential.
He challenged such politicians to disobey the executive orders to know if they could escape jail.
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“I didn’t say nobody should use primary and secondary schools for campaigns. All I have said is if you want to use primary and secondary schools for your campaigns, you deposit money.
“When you have used the place and spoiled anything in the school, the government will use the money to repair those things you spoiled and clean up the school. And there are those who say that they will disobey and no person will do anything. If you disobey, you know where you will be.”
Governor Wike explained that the executive orders sought to regulate the conduct of political activities to curb nuisance and promote public peace.
“Some people put their campaign offices where people are living. Somebody is coming back to his house, he can’t enter his house. Why, because they are holding political meetings. We say this thing has to be regulated. It has to be in a non-residential area. They say they will not, I say you will. If you dare it without approval, you will go to jail.”