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Tag: Rivers

  • IYC to Wike: No harm should befall Awara

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has told Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that no harm should befall the Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara.

    The umbrella body of the Ijaw youths condemned alleged threat to the life of Awara.

    The IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka described the situation as very unfortunate and sad.

    Dasimaka said: “Mr. Awara is an Ijaw son and Ijaws all over the world will not sit back and watch any further threat to one of their own who like every Rivers son and daughter, has the right to aspire to the office of the Governor of Rivers State.

    ” The AAC gubernatorial candidate, Biokpomabo Awara raised the alarm through his campaign organisation that Governor Wike and a few others that have arrogated to themselves the power of life and death to remain in government are plotting to assassinate him.

    “It is therefore imperative to note that the rights of every eligible citizen under our Constitution to vie for political position of their choice like Mr Awara has presented himself should be respected and not seen as threat to a fair contest.

    “Against the backdrop of the foregoing, the IYC is therefore calling on the security agencies to investigate those behind this cowardly act and bring them to justice as we stand against political killings in Rivers state”.

  • Electoral offenders held in Rivers, Abia

    The Army yesterday said it arrested about 20 persons in Rivers, Imo and Abia States for electoral offences.

    The spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said the Army worked with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the elections.

    A statement in Abuja said despite the risk to the lives of soldiers, especially in Rivers, they prevented thugs, kidnappers and ballot box snatchers from having a field day during elections.

    He said: “During the elections, the Army supported the police to ensure a secure and peaceful conduct. Despite pockets of crisis witnessed in few states, the election was secure and peaceful.

    “To achieve this, the Army with other security agencies struggled to checkmate criminals, kidnappers, political thugs, ballot box snatchers from perpetuating their acts, in some instances at the detriment of soldiers’ lives, as witnessed in Abonema and Andoni in Rivers State.

    “Around Everyday supermarket in Owerri, Imo State, four impostors in military uniform (Woodland camouflage) – Chinedu Odogwu, Longinus Okelue, Oguzie Princewell and Kelvin Samalia – were arrested while escorting a prominent female politician in a party vehicle.

    “This development further reaffirmed the Army’s earlier warning against the activities of unscrupulous individuals who sponsor thugs to deepen and further their selfish political objectives.

    “34 Brigade troops on Operation Safe Conduct deployed around Osisioma junction, Abia State, also arrested Mr. Allwell Enwereji and five others conveying already thumb printed ballot papers in his vehicle. Enwereji claimed the ballot papers were specimens for campaign. Investigation is on to ascertain the culpability of the suspects.

    “Similarly, troops on patrol around power plant substation Odukpani LGA, in Cross River State rescued Mr. Authur Nkama, who was kidnapped at Ikot Ansa, in Calabar Municipal Area Council, Cross River State.

    “Troops also intercepted and arrested suspected ballot box snatchers at Air force junction near Ngor Okpala council in Imo State on March 9. On sighting the troops, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and ran into the bush. Items recovered included one Sienna bus, a pump action gun with 11 live cartridge, voters’ cards and assorted ATM cards.

    “Troops also rescued officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) abducted at Ohafia Technical College in Anna Village, Abia State, on March 9. Four of the suspects have been arrested and efforts are on to apprehend others. The suspects have been handed over to the police for further action.

    “Five political thugs were nabbed at Lokpanta, on March 9 while on their way to disrupt election in Lekwesi community, Abia State. Items recovered from them include camouflage trousers, daggers and assorted charms.”

  • AAC governorship candidate’s allegations baseless, lacking merit – Wike

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the allegations leveled against him by the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers, Biokpomabo Awara, are baseless and lacking in merit.

    Wike spoke on Monday through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of the Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    He told Awara that governorship position is for mature people, tested and experienced persons and not for school boys with no record of public service.

    Rivers governor said: “I have seen and read a copy of the press conference and our conclusion is that the entire content is as worthless as the piece of paper bearing the speech and it would be worthless to offer him (Awara) a response.

    “However, allegations of wrongdoing against Governor Wike and the PDP in the press conference are false, baseless and lacking in merit.”

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers state, Mr. Obo Effanga, also denied the allegation by the governorship candidate of AAC that Wike bought a house for him in Maitama, Abuja to support the governor’s re-election.

    Effanga said through the telephone last night: “It is laughable. I do not know anything about it.”

    Awara also alleged that Wike induced the Rivers Administrative Secretary of INEC, Elder Etim John, with N300 million, to deploy ad hoc staff that would support PDP during the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, but John’s mobile line was not available as at press time, for his reaction.

  • Rivers: Police sergeant, another killed as gunmen abduct female politician

    The Police in Rivers State yesterday confirmed the death of a police sergeant, attached to the Chairman, Andoni local government area of the state, Pastor Emelia Nteh.

    The deceased officer, whose name could not be confirmed as at the time of filing this report, was reportedly killed while trying to foil the kidnap of the former council chairman at her Nyeda community of the LGA, on Friday night.

    The police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Nteh was, however, taken away to unknown place by her kidnappers, after killing her orderly.

    Nte, a stalwart of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), was reportedly ambushed at her gates by unknown gunmen who opened fire on her in her vehicle killing her security detail before whisking her away.

    However, rumours making the rounds had it that she was killed in the attacks.

    Speaking to The Nation on phone, Omoni said, “I am not aware of the death of the former Andoni Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Emelia Nteh, but what I know is that she was kidnapped last (Friday) night, between the hours of 6:30 and 7, and is still in the hands of her abductors.

    “However, I can confirm to you of the death of a police officer attached to her as a result of the incident.”

    The public believes that the attack on the female politician is not unconnected with the governorship and state house of assembly polls.

    It would be recalled that a former Chairman of the LGA, Mowan Etete, a former PDP member who later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other members of his house were also killed in the morning hours of the presidential and national assembly polls. They are yet to be buried.

    Omoni equally confirmed the death yesterday morning in Ahoada West LGA of the state of another person, but said he still awaits details of the cause of death from the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer.

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • Fear of fresh violence grips Rivers residents

    Residents of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State are gripped by fear of another round of violence during today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections. And the residents, particularly those at the ‘war zones’ during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections, have every reason to panic, considering the avoidable loss of lives and property they had experienced in previous elections.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja on March 5, the Minister of Transportation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, described as deadly the ambition of his former Chief of Staff and now Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to continue in office.

    Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and leader of APC in the state and the Southsouth zone, as well as the Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, believes that his successor (Wike) is desperate to remain in office at all costs.

    Wike, an ex-Minister of State for Education, however, alleged that his former benefactor (Amaechi), who recommended him in 2011 to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment, should be blamed for the death and injury of many innocent persons during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, no matter the amount of crocodile tears he sheds, describing his former boss as a purveyor of violence.

    On March 6, Amaechi, while addressing members of APC and supporters of the party in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area (LGA), asked them and other people in the state to massively vote for the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Awara Biokpomabo, an engineer and a riverine man from Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru LGA of the state, in today’s governorship election.

    The transportation minister noted that although the main opposition APC in Rivers was still in court over the non-inclusion of the party’s governorship standard bearer, Pastor Tonye Cole, an indigene of Abonnema-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru LGA, on the ballot, he stressed that it was pertinent to adopt the candidate of AAC, considering the closeness of the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    He said: “In the morning of March 6, the leadership of the party met and agreed that we would work with a party called African Action Congress while we are still in court to reclaim our mandate.

    “So, on Saturday (today), we will vote for AAC. You must go home and vote for AAC. There should be no excuse not to vote, because there will be security for everybody. You must prepare and make sure you win the governorship election.”

    Amaechi also assured that the moment the governorship election was won by AAC’s candidate today and he is inaugurated on May 29, 2019, by June this year, there would be local government chairmanship and councillorship elections.

    Wike, however, stated that he and other members of PDP in Rivers State were not worried over APC members’ backing the governorship candidate of AAC, boasting that he would record a landslide victory in view of his developmental projects and his empowerment of the people in the 23 LGAs of the state.

     

    Echoes of violence

    Trouble had started in the state two days to the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections, when the governor raised the alarm that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, was planning to assassinate him and also help the leaders of APC in the state to rig the polls.

    The GOC, however, described Wike, a lawyer, as a liar and blackmailer, insisting that the allegations were senseless and childish.

    On February 23, a chieftain of APC, Chief Mowan Etete, a two-term Chairman of Andoni LGA, the local government area of the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, was shot dead by political thugs around 9 a.m. in his house in Asarama, Andoni LGA, along with his elder brother. Etete, also a former Vice-Chairman of PDP in Rivers State and former Special Adviser to Wike on Political Matters, defected to the APC last October. The APC chieftain and his elder brother were killed after the gunmen scaled the fence of Etete’s compound and rained bullets on them at close range while they were holding a meeting with some people, some of whom were also injured. The invaders escaped without taking any item from the house. Etete had narrowly escaped assassination a few hours before the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections, which were postponed till February 23.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the personnel of the command were on the trail of the killers of Etete and his elder brother, expressing optimism that they would soon be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrence to other criminals.

    The presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State were also marred by sporadic gunshots across the 23 LGAs in the state. There were heavy gunshots in Ubima, Ikwerre LGA, the hometown of Amaechi and another former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia (of PDP), with voters, residents, journalists and other people scampering to safety. Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA, the hometown of a former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Bonny Island also witnessed gunshots, making it impossible for the Electoral Officer in Bonny LGA, Eze Ukachukwu, to distribute voting materials.

    There were non-stop gunshots in Abonnema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers State, the hometown of governorship candidate of APC, Pastor Tonye Cole, and his counterpart in Accord Party, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs. The heavy shootings in Abonnema started in the night of February 22 and continued through out February 23, with the intention of scaring away the electorate and personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    An ally of Wike, Emma Okah, a lawyer, who is the Director of Information and Communications of Rivers PDP Campaign Council and doubles as the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, claimed that 15 PDP members were shot dead by soldiers in Abonnema.

    INEC later decided to reschedule the Akuku-Toru and Bonny LGAs’ elections till March 9.

    While reacting to the violence in Abonnema, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed that gallant troops of the Nigerian Army fought their way through the siege and, in the process, killed six of the assailants but lost a Lieutenant in the encounter.

    Musa said: “Information reaching the headquarters of the Nigerian Army revealed that troops of 6 Division on a legitimate duty of protecting lives and property of law-abiding citizens and ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of 2019 general elections in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State, were attacked by some hoodlums.

    “The pre-planned attack occurred between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in Abonnema town at about 1 pm on 23rd February, 2019.

    “The attackers barricaded a major road into the town and laid an ambush in the adjoining built- up areas, from where they opened fire on our unsuspecting troops when they attempted to remove the barricade. Preliminary investigation indicated that one Rowland Sekibo the Chairman Akuku-Toru LGA, Omodo the CSO Akuku-Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large (all of PDP), were the masterminds of the unexpected/unprovoked attack.”

    The army spokesman also stated that the perpetrators of the ambush would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Responding at a news briefing in Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike accused Amaechi, the GOC 6 division and Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers State, Akin Fakorede, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), of being responsible for the February 23 violence; an allegation they denied outright.

    Wike said: “All our fears and concerns for the peaceful conduct of the general elections in Rivers State were completely vindicated as the army literarily took over the conduct of the general elections and aided armed thugs of the APC to prevent distribution of election materials, disrupt voting, snatch election materials and chase away PDP agents from collation centres across the state.

    “In Abonnema, a criminal declared wanted by the state, christened Don Pedro, led a band of APC armed thugs to the Local Govern ment’s Registration Area Centre (RAC) to forcibly stop the distribution of election materials to the various wards and units of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “​The people of the community (Abonnema) resisted and insisted on having the opportunity to exercise their rights to vote for the party and candidates of their choice.

    “However, instead of disarming and arresting the APC armed thugs to prevent the general elections from being scuttled, the soldiers intervened on the side of APC militia, and in the ensuing confusion and confrontation, killed 15 innocent persons and wounded several others. ​

    “The soldiers are ravaging the entire Abonnema community and killing young men found in their homes.”

    On February 26, the GOC, 6 division, paraded Wike’s Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr. Reason Onya, and the representative of Ahoada West constituency in Rivers House of Assembly, Nwanaka Okpokiri, also of PDP, for rigging February 23 elections in the state.

    The Camp Commandant of Government House, Port Harcourt, Oyoku Ifelle, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt and 31 others, including policemen, thugs and ad hoc staff of INEC, including two women, were also paraded on February 26.

    The GOC disclosed that a lot of manoeuvres by political actors were witnessed in the division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, during the February 23 polls.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “Equally of grave concern is the daring attempt by the Governor of Rivers State to compromise security agencies, particularly troops of 6 Division, with hefty financial inducements to help him in his illegitimate act of thwarting a free and fair electoral process to his favour, while accusing the Nigerian Army and its command hierarchy of bias daily.

    “Apparently, Governor Wike must have underestimated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has over time reiterated and demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to being apolitical, neutral and unbiased. He (COAS) has also left no one in doubt of our total and absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari).

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated allegations will make us bulge. While we do not intend to take issues with anyone, however, it has become expedient to bring to the notice of the general public the actual reasons behind Governor Wike’s attrition against the Nigerian Army and its leadership, with the hope that he will finally sheathe his sword and publicly apologise to the Nigerian Army, as we present the shocking discoveries.”

    All the 35 suspects were handed over to the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Rivers Police Command, Ahmed Kontagora, who represented Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel.

     

    Tales of electoral fraud

    On March 1, at 6 Division, a youth corps member, Tuatimi James Powell, revealed how leaders of PDP in Rivers State sent thugs who forced him and 10 other colleagues (corps members) at gunpoint to Greenside Hotel in Bodo-Ogoni, Gokana LGA of Rivers to rig the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Powell, who was a Presiding Officer (PO) of INEC, said he and other youth corps members had horrifying experiences in the hands of the PDP thugs, who bundled all of them into a waiting bus amid sporadic gunshots and moved them to the hotel while still shooting.

    The youth corps member revealed that on getting to the hotel, the PDP leaders and their thugs forced them, at gunpoint, to fill fictitious results on INEC’s result sheets forcibly taken from him and other corps members, while also forcing them to sign the documents.

    Corroborating Powell, an Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) of INEC, Michael Kponeh, disclosed that the ad hoc staff and other officials of INEC were held hostage by the PDP thugs in Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana LGA and made to do their bidding at gunpoint.

    The 11 corps members were paraded along with 42 other suspects, totalling 53, by the GOC 6 Division, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye, and assisted by 6 Division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “Items recovered from the hotel were 34 ballot boxes loaded with ballot papers, three card readers, ten bags containing electoral materials and a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number: Lagos: EQ 171 KRD.”

    The GOC also disclosed that 13 political thugs were arrested in Harris Town, Degema LGA, Rivers State on February 21, ahead of February 23 elections.

    Also paraded on March 1 was Gogo Meshack of Asarama in Andoni LGA of Rivers State, who was arrested with 142 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and other electoral materials by troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army on February 24, on his way from Asarama to Port Harcourt.

    All the 53 suspects were handed over to Victor Onyeugo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Rivers Police Command, with Onyeugo assuring that personnel of Rivers State police command would ensure further investigation of the suspects and prosecution of the indicted ones.

    On March 5, the GOC again paraded 14 more suspects who were arrested for violence in Akuku-Toru and Obio/Akpor LGAs during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections, with the suspects received by Onyeugo on behalf of the state’s police command. Exactly a week after the Lieutenant was killed in Abonnema, two more soldiers, who were part of the troops stationed to maintain peace in the Kalabari City (Abonnema) were gunned down by hoodlums at the Obonoma-Abonnema Junction, with the criminals carting away the soldiers’ rifles.

    The Coordinator of APC’s Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, accused Wike of being hell-bent on clinging to power at any cost, even taking human lives. He also assured that the Federal Government would seek justice for the families of persons who were killed on February 23 across the 23 LGAs, no matter how long it would take.

    Cole, who is also the Rivers governorship candidate of APC, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the Niger Delta state during the presidential and National Assembly polls.

    He said: “Over the past few days, Rivers State has once again been in the headlines globally for all the wrong reasons. It has been my personal plea and mantra, as well as that of the APC that the violence meted out to our members and citizens of the state in 2015, and immediately thereafter, has no place in any modern society, especially one that desperately needs to grow economically and develop for the betterment of its people. We have called for peace and peaceful elections at every stage.

    “I have been shocked and saddened by statements and comments attributed to Wike that Prof. Charles Dokubo-Quakers (Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme/Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs), Prince Tonye Princewill (APC chieftain) and I are responsible for the carnage and deaths in Abonnema on February 23. These malicious and unfounded allegations are being investigated and our lawyers will advise on possible libel suits to take against those who have peddled these wicked falsehoods.

    “For anyone willing to expose the truth, the task is relatively easy and the motive particularly clear. Nigerians in their vast numbers were shocked to learn of militant kingpins that were rewarded for their roles in the 2015 elections with positions in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Local Government Councils and State Government appointments by the Rivers State Government. This is common knowledge and the names of these individuals are known to many.

    “In Akuku-Toru LGA in particular, Hon. Rowland Sekibo, currently at large, is the Chairman of the LGA, and under his watch, Abonnema was brazenly under the control of several deadly cult groups. Like in several LGAs across the state and operating under the cover of the Local Government Authority, militarised cult groups have held Akuku- The oil magnate (Lulu-Briggs), who until September 28, 2018, was a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC, also accused Rivers governor of using primitive tactics, especially by sponsoring Mr. Precious Baridoo, who is claiming to be Accord Party’s governorship candidate in the state, and trying to cause confusion in Accord Party by sponsoring litigation at Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obile, as he earlier did in APC, where he sponsored many court cases against Cole.

    Wike, through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of Rivers PDP Campaign Council, however, denied causing confusion in Accord Party, APC and other political parties, claiming that his “impressive” performance across Rivers’ 23 LGAs would earn him re-election.

    The House of Representatives’ candidate of the APC for Okrika/Ogu-Bolo constituency of Rivers state, Mrs. Maureen Tamuno, assured that in spite of the challenges and court cases, members of the party in Rivers were preparing for the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    She hinted that ahead of March 9 polls, there would be the need for realignment, to be directed by the leader of APC in Rivers and Southsouth zone (Amaechi).

    Tamuno, a former Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council, stated these on March 3 at a thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Ogu, the headquarters of Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers, to appreciate God on the victory of President Buhari.

    She said: “We did our best and our contributions brought about the victory for President Buhari. We are celebrating and rejoicing. We know that President Buhari will not forget the people of Okrika/Ogu-Bolo federal constituency who have stood strong for him, despite all the problems that we are facing.”

    Tamuno assured that APC members in Rivers would exercise their franchise on March 9.

    Rivers governor, however, asked APC’s leaders and members in Rivers to accept the reality that their party would still not be on the ballot for today’s elections in the state.

    Wike said: “Truth be told, the Supreme Court has spoken. INEC has confirmed. It is the will of God and there is nothing anybody can do to return the APC to the ballot for the 2019 general elections in Rivers State.

    “But this, I believe, is not the end of life for the APC in Rivers State. There is always another day and as political leaders, we must have the courage to accept the reality, know when to stop fighting for nothing and tell our followers the simple truth, even if it may sound bitter.

    “I would therefore advice my brothers in the APC to endeavour to put their house in order, allow the prevailing peace to continue and prepare for 2023.”

  • APC chieftain asks FG to take action over killing of soldiers in Rivers

    Former national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief  Ibrahim Emokpaire has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    Speaking to The Nation, Emokpaire condemned the killing of soldiers in Rivers State, saying the greatest democratic country in the world would not tolerate such.

    According to him, it was not the first time soldiers and security agents were being killed in Rivers. “There is no justifiable reason for two of our Nigerian soldiers to be killed. There is no country in the whole world, where military will be mowed down and the commander in chief will take it lightly with perpetrators of such heinous crime.

    Emokpaire said irrespective of the immunity of  Rivers State governor, Nysome Wike, what the Federal Government should do is to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in order to deter others who think they can kill soldiers and get away with it or without consequences.

    “The men in uniform that are protecting the country cannot just be mowed down just like that without consequences. These are the people that have committed their lives to protect all Nigerians in general and nobody, however high, either with immunity or no immunity from any sector of the country has right to start killing the soldiers without consequences.”

    The former APC chairmanship aspirant urged Buhari to make sure that those who killed the soldiers were apprehended immediately.

    He wondered why many have kept quiet about killing of our soldiers, taking it as business as usual, saying it must have consequences. “We cannot take anything for granted; we cannot turn everything upside down in the name of democracy,” he said.

    He declared that even in the America which is one of the largest democracies in the world, would not tolerate one soldier being killed by anybody. “Even when a soldier was attacked and killed by a terrorist on the street of London, the perpetrator was apprehended immediately. Everybody connected with the crime was apprehended and was locked up for interrogation; the house of the terrorist was shut down completely,” Emokpaire said.

  • Rivers: APC Chieftain calls for violent free poll

    A two-time governorship aspirant in Rivers state and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Prince Tonye Princewill has asked politicians and stakeholders in the state to do everything possible to ensure the peaceful conduct of this weekend’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly election in the state.

    Princewill said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that violence will not help the state as bad news travels fast and sends the wrong signal from Rivers state to the outside world

    He said “The news in the country on Rivers state is often fashionably negative and we as leaders can not simply blame it on the media. We all have a responsibility too. While some are fascinated by the headlines, we are the ones who have to suffer the impact of these negative headlines and tarnished reputations.”

    The Prince of the Niger Delta as he is fondly called by his associates explain that without security, we cannot attract business, without business you can not create jobs and without jobs, you can not have peace.

    He said “Two Northerners competed keenly for the office of President and it is in Rivers that our people were killing each other. How does that make sense? Having said that, people will not realize that most of Rivers state was peaceful. In Asari Toru where I was, Phalga and Abua LGA where historically violence has been the norm, people from opposing parties were seen sitting together at the collation center and cracking jokes. You don’t hear that do you because bad news travels fast. Leaders should think beyond today and ourselves.”

    He also called on the international community to sanction people who obtain power through violence and the blood of innocent people saying that sanctions, travel restrictions and account freezes are what will hit a politician where it hurts. “We are tired of their barking. They need to start to develop teeth.”

  • PDP decries mass arrest of members in N/Delta states

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged mass arrest and detention of its leaders and members in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states by soldiers ahead of Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.
     
    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP decried what it described as attempts by the Presidency and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to turn the South-South states into war zone.
    The main opposition party blamed the APC for desperation to suppress voters, manipulate the electoral process and forcefully take over control of the states.

    The statement said, “In Rivers state, leaders of the PDP are being hounded and forcefully picked up in a well-coordinated operation by military operatives attached to the Director General of Buhari’s Campaign Organization and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    “Our party has received reports on how soldiers led by one Major Mustapha Bello from Sokoto Division, under Amaechi’s directives, manhandled, arrested and took away the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tam Gogo Jaja to an unknown destination.

    “During the February 23 polls, soldiers, also under the directives of Rotimi Amaechi, invaded the state and engaged in unrestrained harassment of PDP supporters, resulting in the killing of over 30 innocent citizens.

    “The PDP invites Nigerians and the international community to note the development in the South-South as well as how the Buhari Presidency and the APC are provoking the people of the region and pushing them to the precipice.

    “The tension in the Niger Delta has been dangerously stretched and there is a limit to what the people can stomach in the face of such aggressions without resort to self-help.

    “Moreover, the Niger Delta region remains a stronghold of the PDP and no amount of intimation and assault by the APC can change this reality.

    “Our party, therefore, demands the immediate release of every PDP member arrested by the military as well as instant stoppage of military aggression in the region ahead of the elections. Any delay in cessation of this aggression by the APC and the military will destroy the precarious peace in the region and spell doom for our nation”.

  • Breaking: Amaechi backs AAC guber candidate in Rivers

    The leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and the South-south zone, Rotimi Amaechi has declared his support for the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Awara Biokpomabo.

    Following this development, Amaechi urged members of APC and supporters of the party in Rivers to massively vote on Saturday for Biokpomabo, a riverine man from Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

    The minister of Transportation made this declaration Wednesday morning in Eleme, Eleme LGA of Rivers state, while addressing APC’s members and supporters, ahead of the March 9 polls.

    He noted that although the main opposition APC in Rivers was still in court over the non-inclusion of the party’s standard bearer, Pastor Tonye Cole, an indigene of Abonnema-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru LGA, on the ballot.

    Amaechi stressed that it was pertinent to adopt the candidate of AAC, considering the closeness of the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    He said: “This morning, the leadership of the party met and agreed that we would work with a party called African Action Congress (AAC), while we are still in court to reclaim our mandate.

    “So, on Saturday (March 9), we will vote for AAC. You must go home and vote for AAC. There should be no excuse not to vote, because there will be security for everybody. You must prepare and make sure you win the governorship election.”

    The transportation minister also enjoined Rivers people to massively vote for the AAC’s candidate, stressing that there were numerous benefits they would derive from the government.

    He said: “The moment the governorship election is won by AAC’s candidate this Saturday and the new governor is inaugurated on May 29, 2019, by June this year; there will be local government’s chairmanship and councillorship elections.

    ‘So, you should all go out and vote and make sure that you are not rigged out.”

    The transportation minister was, however, silent on who APC members in Rivers should vote for in the House of Assembly poll, but an ally of Amaechi, who spoke in confidence, disclosed that AAC did not have candidates for House of Assembly election.