APC Accuses Police, First Lady Of Aborting Okrika Rally

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has accused the state Police Command of working with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent its rally at the two Okrika-speaking local government areas of Ogu/Bolo and Okrika in the state.
In a statement read to journalists by the Director of Communication of the APC Campaign Organisation, Mrs Ibim Semenetari at the party’s campaign office in Port Harcourt, the party alleged that the rally,  re-scheduled for Okrika yesterday, was aborted by the state Police Command on the excuse that it could not guarantee the security of any political rally again in the area.
It would be recalled that the APC rally in Okrika was earlier aborted on January 24  following the attack on the party’s rally venue at the Okrika National School Field by unknown gunmen.
Okrika is the home town of the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Mrs Semenitari disclosed that the party, in the early hours of Wednesday, was asked by the state Police Command to postpone its rally indefinitely on the ground that the police could not be able to guarantee security for the rally.
The APC also accused Dame Patience Jonathan of surprised visit to Okrika on Wednesday to ensure that the  rally did not hold.
Semenitari called on the international community to call the Presidency and the Nigerian Police to order, saying that the people of Rivers State, who were members of APC, were being treated as slaves in their state.
Also briefing the journalists,  Chairman of Dakuku Peterside Campaign Organisation in Okrika, Barrister Tamuno William said, rumours before the scheduled rally date in Okrika had it that the APC would not be allowed to hold any rally in the two Okrika-speaking local government areas of the state.
According to him, the rumours also alleged that the President’s wife was in Okrika to ensure that the rally did not hold in the areas.
William expressed surprise that the outgoing  state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature,  who had earlier promised to provide adequate security for the APC rally in Okrika after the January 24 incident,  suddenly changed his mind, even when the same Police Command provided adequate security for PDP rally in Obio/Akpor last Wednesday.

Enoch Epelle

Former chairman, Okrika Local Government Council, Hon Tamuno Williams (middle), addressing pressmen on behalf of Rivers APC leaders, last Wednesday. He is flanked on the right by the state Information and Communications Commissioner, Mrs Ibim Semenitari. Photo: Ibioye Diama