Rivers State Governor and Director-General of Buhari campaign
organization, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed plans by the
state to set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into violent
deaths of some Rivers citizens in the March 28 Presidential Election.
He made the disclosure at the weekend while addressing APC supporters
during a victory rally in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
He said their deaths would be avenged by the law in line with his
administration’s resolve to protect lives and property.
“This morning, I got approval from the Executive Council to set up a
judicial commission of enquiry to investigate those deaths that happened
before election, during election and after election. Anybody found guilty
will go to jail. I didn’t set up administrative enquiry. I set up
judicial commission of enquiry. It means that the man sitting there is
sitting as a judge. He is not sitting as chairman, he is sitting as a
judge, if you are found guilty, straight to jail”.
He bemoaned police brutal actions on innocent voters in the state during
the March 28 Presidential election.
He however said next Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state would
be peaceful, free and fair with the new tide across the country following
victory at the polls of General Muhammadu Buhari in the country’s March 28
Presidential Election.
“This time, election will be peaceful, free and fair. Last time, we saw
policemen thumb printing for them. This time they will not. If they do
that, take their name, take their number, record them for us”, he said.
He described the March 28 election day as freedom day for all Nigerians.
He also said there would be no more arbitrary arrests by the police in
Rivers State.
Amaechi said he is justified in leaving PDP for the APC, describing his
action as his best political choice at the time.
“People blamed me for leaving PDP to APC and I said they are wrong. They
are wrong because God has directed that we should move to APC and because
God said I have left them”.
He reiterated that President-elect Gen. Buhari would not Islamize Nigeria.
On APC’s Presidential victory, Amaechi said it was God’s will for the
country.
“I made it clear that God has said we would win Saturday’s election and I
said we would be fighting with police and army but God would be behind us
and if God is behind us, we would win, didn’t we win?”
“They went to Churches to preach, they went to incite our people in
churches and said that Buhari is a Muslim, he will Islamize Nigeria, and I
said I didn’t see that. I said to them I am a Christian, I am a Catholic,
nobody can Islamize me. This afternoon, I observed the Catholic
ceremonies for Good Friday. On Sunday, I will go to Church to pray to my
God and thank Him for bringing victory to us.”
e Buhari administration would be just and God-fearing and would not use
police to harass or intimidate anyone.
Earlier, Amaechi said Buhari would successfully tackle poverty and
unemployment on assuming office.
He said: “From the first day he is sworn-in, he will begin to address
poverty and unemployment”.
He urged the people to be peaceful in the forthcoming governorship
election in the state and vote for the APC governorship candidate.
“We would go out and bring in the votes. My phone will be open on that
day, if you are bringing in the votes and any policeman harasses you,
don’t fight back. Just give me the person’s name and number.
“I say they have the police, they have the army and I told you they don’t
have God. Didn’t I tell you that, have you seen God work now?”, he asked.