National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has condemned in strong
terms yesterday’s attack on members of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State led by Hon.
Ben Horsfall.
In a statement he personally signed, Abe stated that Nigerians are aware
that armed youths led by Mr. Ibisobebor Daminabor Wokoma, a known member
of the party and an associate of Hon Ojukaye Amachree, an acolyte of the
Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi invaded the venue of
a peaceful gathering of APC members in Buguma City with dangerous
weapons, inflicting serious injuries on several persons including women.
The statement further stated that the reason Hon. Ben Horsfall and other
party members almost lost their lives yesterday in Buguma was because
they dare to disagree with the Minister of Transportation.
The statement reads in parts: “The Rivers State version of Federal might
was yesterday visited on Hon. Ben Horsfall and some members of the APC
in Buguma City. This is ominous beginning to the new year in Rivers
State and a clear sign of what is ahead for Rivers People.
Nigerians will do well to remember that it was the same Hon. Ben
Horsfall who risked life and limb and physically served the court papers
of the now-famous case of Amaechi Vs. INEC on the then sitting Governor
of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia.
It was Hon. Ben Horsfall’s courage and his conviction to disagree with
the powers that be at that time, that made the case possible. Ben
Horsfall was never assaulted, attacked, or brutalized for his open
confrontation with then Governor Omehia.
Today, for daring to hold a different view from Amaechi, but for the
grace of God, Hon Ben Horsfall, himself and several others could have
died.
Nigerians will do well to remember that the political violence that
engulfed Rivers State and claimed so many lives before the 2015
elections actually started with attacks on supporters of the Grassroots
Democratic Initiative, then led by the Minister of State for Education,
Barrister Nyesom Wike.
Nigerians will also recollect that the first place the GDI peacefully
held a rally in Rivers State was in Gokana Local Government Area (my
home local government), because I flatly refused despite orders from
above to allow violence on Rivers people of any political persuasion.
When the response to violence came, the originators and original
sponsors were the ones now holding rallies and demonstrations to call
attention to escalating violence in Rivers State.
At the end of the day, the recourse violence did not alter the result of
the contest.
We are treading the same path once again, from the violence visited on
party members at Old Party Secretariat, to attack on the State
Judiciary, the attack on the State Party Secretariat at Waterlines
Junction, and yesterday’s attack on Rivers people in Asari Toru Local
Government Area; the temptation and the belief of the Minister and his
supporters that violence offers a short cut to the resolution of the
situation in the party has become evident.
I have been restrained in my reactions, in the belief that we cannot all
lose our heads at the same time, but the lack of effective response to
these issues by the security agencies, is leading these criminals and
their sponsors to the conclusion that they are above the law, and now
becoming emboldened and unrestrained.
When the security agencies allow political crime to reign unchallenged,
they should not be surprised when violent crime ravages the society; for
these politically protected, and privileged criminals are the same
ones tormenting our society today because they can act with impunity and
are being protected for their political roles. A stitch in time they say
saves nine.
The matter, (like the previous cases before it) has again been reported
to the security agencies who were actually witnesses to the event.
This is a test case for Rivers State ahead of 2023. The political issues
in the APC in Rivers State cannot be resolved by violence. Even if we
succeed in killing one another, will that bring peace to the party? Will
that endear the party to the majority of Rivers people?
All leaders of Rivers State must stand up in clear condemnation of the
resort to violence, for at the end of the day anyone can become a victim
when violence reigns.
The response of the security agencies must be swift, effective and
definitive, to avoid another era of political bloodletting in Rivers
politics.
Our people deserve no less”.