The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the State Police Command to call to order those it described as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brigands in the state.
In a statement issued by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, on Saturday, the party also described as hogwash the allegations of violence against it by PDP.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a highly mendacious and spurious allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the effect that members of the APC in Rivers State shot and killed two members of the PDP yesterday.”
“As much as the allegation is wild and without substance, we are convinced that the Nigerian Police and other security agencies now have Mr. Jerry Needam and his Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, to assist them in uncovering the identities of those behind the killing, if there was any. This is predicated on their express assertion accusing the APC, meaning that they know those involved in the alleged sinister act.”
“We can only observe that the PDP has established, over time, a pattern of raising spurious and unfounded accusations whenever it has hatched a plan to cause mayhem to the APC or even to their members.”
“In line with that established pattern, the PDP unleashed mayhem last night when its suspected members and hirelings went on rampage and completely destroyed all APC posters, billboards and other outdoor signage in Akukutoru Local Government Area of Rivers State, preparatory to the visit of their Governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, to Abonnema, the Akukutoru LGA headquarters Saturday.”
“At this moment, APC members are still counting their losses as they gather evidence in form of photographs of the massive destruction.”
“Curiously, the APC billboard directly opposite the Abonnema Divisional Police Station was also not spared and the Police DPO and his men are not coming up with any explanations.”
“As soon as we conclude the gathering of evidence, the APC will Sunday brief the press of our findings with facts and figures.”
“The sordid memory of the shooting of our members in Khana, Akukutoru and Asaritoru by suspected PDP members, whose only crime was embarking on a journey to be part of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Flag-off last Tuesday, is still fresh in the minds of peace-loving people of Rivers State.”
“Finally, all empirical evidence point to the PDP resorting to violence at the slightest opportunity as they seem to have violence embedded in their DNA.”
“We call on the Nigerian Police and all security agencies to be bold enough to carry out their constitutional responsibilities by reining in these primitive men of yesterday who do not understand, or worse still, accept the tenets of modern democratic behaviour.”