Tony John, Port Harcourt
Nigeria, May 11, 2016 – The Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleging that until the current Inspector General of Police(IGP), Solomon Arase and the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike are removed from office, the lives of innocent Rivers people, policemen and members of other security agencies will continue to be senselessly dispensed with without consequences.
In a statement, PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah said such proposition is unpatriotic, questionable and should be investigated accordingly.
According to Obua, rather than joining the government and other stakeholders to proffer solution to issues of criminality and security in the society, the APC leadership is relentlessly making efforts to cause havoc and create lawless situation in the State, inciting the people and blackmailing the Governor of the State, the Police and military authorities, as well as the leaders and members of the PDP in the State for selfish and ill-conceived political motive.
The PDP expressed concern that few weeks after one of the APC leaders, Mr. Magnus Abe allegedly gave a directive to their supporters to take up arms against perceived enemies, the party has not left any one in doubt that all it wants by all means is to blackmail Governor Nyesom Wike, and all those perceived not supporting his mission, including causing security breaches in the state.
“The latest statement by the APC chairman, Mr. Davis Ikanya, signed by one Chris Fynebone, while reacting on the killing of five policemen attached to 30 PMF (Police Mobile Force), Yenagoa, on Monday, May 9, 2016, along the Okobie – Yenagoa Road, to us, is one of such moves’’, he said.
Obuah believes that the APC leaders in the State and the party do not have a better way than the PDP in tackling insecurity, violence and criminality in the State, recalling that before former Governor Rotimi Amaechi left office, the state was in shambles and that people were being kidnapped, while communal crises were on the rise.
“Even agents of that government and so-called representatives of the people, including the former Governor himself were acting as beasts and commandos in offices and public places, abusing rights of citizens and disobeying federal authorities, not to talk of the social insecurity caused as a result of massive unemployment, corruption, non-payment of salaries, pension and contract funds to deserving persons and institutions as the case may be in the State’’, PDP said.
He explained that the PDP, as a party of responsible men and women has no intention of pointing accusing fingers at any one or group at the moment when investigations in the incident and related ones are still ongoing.
‘’But we are forced to be worried about certain statements and declarations by APC leaders in recent times, which pose more threat to the peace and security of our State and the nation at large,’’ he said, adding that the PDP has continued to draw the attention of the Police and other security agencies to some unpatriotic and ill-conceived actions by the last APC government under Rotimi Amaechi, particularly the release of hardened criminals and political thugs, who were been held for various criminal charges in prison, as well as the recent directive by Mr. Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress, APC, after the March 19, 2016 re-run elections in the State that his supporters should take up arms.
“We recall that on hearing this directive by Mr. Abe, we (the PDP) alerted the Police on the understanding that this call was an invitation for the APC thugs to use arms and ammunition already procured and were in their possession to cause insurrection and havoc in the State.
“It is not in doubt and an infallible fact that the APC leadership under Mr. Davis Ikanya has consistently preferred violence to peace and order in their political activities in the State’’, he alleged.
Meanwhile, the PDP has commiserated with the Inspector General of Police and the entire Nigerian Police Force over this latest ambush resulting in loss of lives of gallant and committed men of the force.
“We are much worried considering the thread of events in the country today, and the enormous challenges it poses to the security forces.
“We are not unaware of the relentless and huge sacrifices men of the Nigerian Police Force continue to demonstrate, even in the face of heinous calamities like this that they experience in course of carrying out their professional duty, particularly in confronting crimes and violence in the society. These sacrifices are quite commendable.
“The PDP expresses heartfelt sympathy to the families of the deceased and called on the Police authorities not to be deterred by this incident but to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
“The PDP will continue to cooperate with and support the law enforcement agencies in ridding the State of criminals and to maintain peace and security in our communities’’, the party said.
