APC Decries Police Bias In Rivers …As More PDP Decampees Join Party

Stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikwerre Local Government Area have accused the police in Rivers State of supporting the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to disrupt its rallies and gatherings in the state.

The alarm followed yesterday’s police action to disrupt APC rally in Isiokpo and was coming barely one day after it also disrupted one at Etche and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, on how tear gas cannisters were used by the police to disrupt an APC rally in Isiokpo, headquaters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Chairman of the Council Hon. Welendu Amadi wondered why the rights of citizens to freely associate were being trampled upon by the police.

He said, “this is not what we bargained for when we voted for President Jonathan. The police is now being used against the people of Rivers State and this is not good for democracy”.

Amadi stated that trouble began when some policemen barricaded the house of Chief Wobodo Amadi where they were having a peaceful gathering. Shortly after they approached them to disperse, the police told them they were acting on the orders of powers above.

The Ikwerre Local Government chairman said as they were still talking with the policemen, shots were fired into the air, and tear gas thrown into the compound which caused a serious stampede,” as I am talking to you now some women lost their bags, while others were arrested. Is this truly democracy?”, he asked.

Hon. Amadi’s story was corroborated by Elder Chidi Weheoka and Chief Wobodo Amadi both chieftains of APC in the LGA.

Chief Amadi recalled that despite attempt to plead with the team of policemen, more tear gas cannisters were shot into his compound, adding, “ lot of those in my house were elderly people and women and I have not seen the police behave like this before because in a democracy they were supposed to be protectors of lives and properties.”

The Chairman of Isiokpo Council of Chiefs said most the victims have been moved to the hospital while others were forced to flee from the scene.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff Government House, Sir Tony Okocha has called on all APC members in the state to remain peaceful and resolute in the face of provocation saying,” what we have experienced in the state is supporters of Amaechi versus Police in a country, or in a state where we are free citizens”.

Sir Okocha said he was not surprised the PDP had resorted to violence because they have lost ground,” by the time we fisnish with what we are doing there would be nothing to harvest by PDP”.

The chief of Staff recalled that similar incident had occured in Etche, Obio/Akpor and recently in Ikwerre Local Government Areas emphasizing that, “they are only showing their hands too early that they will use the police in 2015”.

He believed that the PDP was scheming to push the state into a state of anarchy, and urged APC   supporters to remain law abiding assuring that at the end of the day history will vindicate them.

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State Monday, formally defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with a pledge to continue to support the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in his determination to transform the state.

The decampees from the 19 wards in the area gathered at Okehi, the Council headquarters amid gun-totting youths who attempted to disrupt the rally.

The programme attracted the political class and all the stakeholders in the area as well as the press and the security operatives.

Addressing the people of Etche at the Council premises, venue of the rally, the member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke commended the people for embracing the change in the area, adding that APC would meet the aspirations of the people.

Hon. Nwuke averred that the APC had come to stay in the state as well as in Etche, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become a dead party both in the country, state and the local government at large.

According to him, the people of the state were tired of intimidation, harassment and sentiment from the leadership of PDP, adding that the people of the area could no longer stay in such political party that was devoid of internal democracy, equity, justice and fairness.

He urged the people to continue to have faith in the new party describing APC as the party to beat in the next election in 2015.

Also speaking the Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Bar. Reginald Ukwuoma disclosed that the people of the area came to make their formal declaration for All Progressive Congress (APC) and reiterated their unalloyed support to Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration in the state.

The Council boss stated that the party had opened the gate for APC membership in the area and urged the people to embrace the change.

Ukwuoma debunked the allegation that members of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) disrupted the programme adding that such information was untrue.

“We had our opening prayers, chairman’s opening address, stakeholders solidarity speeches, our programme was successful, it was during the vote of thanks that these boys intensified their shooting but we had already spoken and hoisted the APC flag.”

He urged supporters of the party in the area to continue to remain law abiding.

In his speech, the Special Adviser to the State Government on Special Project and Monitoring and former Chairman of the Council, Hon. Okere Nnamdi Okere averred that the people of the area had moved from a collapsing party to the APC.

He said that the people of the area had watched for six years and seen that the government at the centre has no regard for the people of the state, adding that oil wells from Etche had been ceded to Abia State.

In his own speech the Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN) Etche Chapter Hon. Precious Dike assured the state governor and the APC leadership in the area of the support of Etche youths.

There were goodwill messages from Hon. Golden Chioma, Charles Anyanwu Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi among others.

In a related development, the Interim Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya says, the party has come to sweep away impunity; imposition and other undemocratic tendencies from the state.

Addressing thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Andoni who defected to the party on Monday at Ngo, the council headquarters, Chief Ikanya urged the Federal Government to explain the continuous decrease in revenue accruals from the 13 percent derivation to Rivers State.

Akujobi Amadi & John Bibor

Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Dickson Umunakwe (left), conferring with Chairman, Mile One Market Traders Association, Deacon Kenneth Eze, during a public sensitisation programme on Fire, Safety and Prevention, organised by the state Ministry of Special Duties, last Monday. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson