The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a sinister plan to stifle the party in the state.
Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone at the weekend said the arrest and harassment of the Caretaker Chairman of Omuma Local Government last week was a confirmation of a grand plan to persecute its members and other supporters of Governor Amaechi.
He said, “…What is playing out is a grand plan to strangulate the party. They are determined to make sure the APC does not stand, but let me assure them they will fail.”
Last week, CTC Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu was arrested and detained by men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for allegedly damaging a billboard carrying the photographs of President Jonathan.
This follows an incident that occurred on Monday last week during which a billboard of President Jonathan was accidentally shot by a policeman attached to the CTC chairman’s wife at Omuma.
Hon. Wogu, in company of Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress(APC) in Rivers State, Chris Finebone and Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe, told pressmen on Sunday that he would challenge his unlawful arrest and detention by men of the police.
Wogu said he was charged for treasonable felony by the police but was later released.
He said, “We respect the person of the president and allowed the banner to stay yet over six APC bill boards have been vandalized in the area”.
He also fingered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Assembly member, Kelechi Wogu for masterminding his arrest and sponsoring thugs to destroy APC banners in the area after the incident.
The Omuma CTC chairman, who recalled how the incident happened said the gunshot on the billboard was not deliberate, since the council had approved of the bill board in respect to the president.
The Omuma CTC chairman was arrested and detained at the GRA Police station and later at SARs  handcuffed and manhandled alongside other criminals,” I take it as a prize I pay for leadership and prize I pay for democracy.”
If not for the early intervention of APC chieftains in the area, following the way and manner some chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had pursued the matter there would have been bloodbath in the area Wogu further stated.
He wondered why the police would arrest him even when it was confirmed that he did not order such action and was engaged in a meeting at Port Harcourt on that day.
The chairman showed the wounds and scar he sustained from the police squad who came to arrest him.
Wogu lamented that since after the incident the policeman alleged to have shot the banner has not been seen and that his police orderly attached to him had been withdrawn ,” if anything happens to me please the Federal Government should be held responsible”.
Meanwhile, APC chieftain and Commissioner for Special Duties, Dickson Umunakwe says no measure of intimidation will cow the party faithful in the area.
He said, “we remain resolute in Omuma to carry out our aim of bringing about development in the area.”