The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has tasked President
Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive action to end the lingering political
violence in the State and to bring the perpetrators to book. The party
made the request in a statement in which it commended the President for
coming out boldly to condemn the needless carnage in Rivers and to
describe it as “worrisome”.
In a statement, signed by Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya,
said: “We received with happiness the recent statement credited to
President Muhammadu Buhari that the murderous rerun election in Rivers
state was shameful, unfortunate and barbaric. We agree with Mr. President
that more Nigerians have been killed in Rivers than any other state in the
country. What we are asking is, what are the steps to be taken by the
Federal Government to secure the State and her people from the PDP/WIKE
gang of killers? That Governor Wike has made Rivers State a killer field
should give all Nigerians concern because we don’t know who will be the
next victim as the Army, Police, Youth Corps members and hapless Rivers
residents are not spared.”
The party expressed sadness that Governor Nyesom Wike could be so callous
to celebrate the death of human beings and the turning of Rivers State
into another Somalia where human beings are either buried alive or burnt.
“Sadly, the threats by Governor Wike to murder INEC officials and anybody
that would stand in his way during the rerun elections were fully
implemented as a Corps member, Samuel Okonta, INEC official, Army and
Police personnel were all murdered in cold blood. This man has gone
further to threaten the lives of President Buhari, the Army Chief of Staff
and his predecessor governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi. To cap it all, he
sent his Chief of Staff, Samuel Wite, to assassinate the DG of NIMASA, Dr.
Dakuku Peterside; Rivers APC State Chairman, Dr. Ikanya; and APC Deputy
Governorship Candidate, Hon Asita O. Asita. The trio would have been dead
if not for the grace of God and the gallantry of the DSS personnel that
came to their rescue,” Rivers APC lamented.
The party asked: “Do we continue to tolerate this man and applaud him for
turning Rivers State into the hotbed of violence? Do we wait until the
life of our President or Amaechi is touched before we do something to call
this man to order?”
As Wike continue to play politics with the lives of Rivers State people,
let us state that, those who travel on the lane of falsehood, subterfuge
and deceit will definitely get to their destination which is destruction.
The blood of all those killed for the so called PDP/Wike’s victory will
one day speak.
Rivers APC applauded the position of INEC not to conduct any other
election in Rivers State if adequate security is not put in place. “In the
same vein, we wish to further state that it is not acceptable if all those
caught perpetuating evil and electoral malpractice, particularly Wike’s
aides, are not duly prosecuted. If this is not done it may be difficult
for us to participate in any election in Rivers State as we can’t continue
to endanger the lives of our people because of election,” the party said.
It sympathised with the people of Rivers State over Wike’s tragic style of
governance and for portraying the State in bad light “whereas we are a
peaceable, resourceful and result-oriented people and not barbarians”.
The party meanwhile commended Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for maintaining a
peaceful disposition during the rerun elections, without which the State
would have burned to the ground. It appealed to its teeming members and
supporters to continue to maintain the peaceful disposition for which APC
is known so as not to give PDP warmongers an excuse to unleash further
violence on the State.