The incumbent Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has pointed finger at Patience Jonathan, Nigeria's first lady for the attack on members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Okrika, Rivers State. The attack disrupted and ended the party’s campaign rally.
Mr. Amaechi who spoke to journalists in Abuja briefly after the enlarged APC leaders meeting at the Shehu Yar’Adua centre in Abuja, Tuesday.
The governor condemned the violent act and expressed disappointment over the law enforcement officers’ failure to ensure a hitch-free campaign for the APC, despite having earlier assured the party of adequate security and given approval for the campaign to hold.
He said “Again, as usual, the first lady won’t allow the APC hold rally in that place (Okrika). The first lady and the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers again organized thugs to disrupt APC rally. As usual, the police were unable to protect us, over 200 police men. I asked the commissioner of police and he said they have over 200 policemen there. Yet, three explosions and then they opened fire on members of APC. The Channels TV reporter I hear, is injured, stabbed, and members of APC injured.
“We had meetings with DSS (Directorate of State Security) and police and they affirmed we could go ahead. There were 200 policemen and there were over 20 to 30 DSS men who came there and they did nothing,” Mr. Amaechi said.
Questioned if Rivers State was ready for elections, he said, “You should ask the president, it’s not me you should be asking. If he is in Sambisa, if he is in Borno fighting the 14 local government areas. Like I said, there were crises in the Niger Delta in 2007 and there were elections. So if the 14 local governments of Borno and Adamawa and Yobe, he can’t go ahead with election, then where is he going ahead with election when the whole of Rivers State is being invaded by PDP and PDP thugs and security men are watching and doing nothing.”
He called for halt to the harassment of APC members and supporters in Okrika, mentioning that it would be unpleasant if other Local Government Areas of the state to experience a similar situation.
“Clearly, the wife of the president do not want APC to campaign in Okrika, her local government area.” Mr. Amaechi stated.
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