Cultists responsible for Rivers killings not politicians – Wike

….APC: Wike ready to sacrifice thousand for victory

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that the state government was supporting the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to tackle cult-related violence in some communities in the state accusing cultists of being behind the killings and not politicians as generally believed.

In an obvious reference to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, he said it is uncharitable for a political party to play politics with security in the state by claiming that victims of cult-related violence are their members, simply because they want to gain political mileage.

‎The governor who speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt said: “We are doing everything in partnership with the security agencies to resolve the cult related security challenges in some communities in the state.

“Kidnapping is a national issue, but the reportage on the situation in Rivers State is over-blown. What we have in Rivers State is cult -related violence which the government and security agencies are resolving.

“Those who beheaded members of a family in Omoku have been arrested and they are cultists”, he added.

According to him: “If any casualty occurs during the cult-related violence, a particular political party claims the victim as their member; I wonder why a political party because of politics will claim cultists as their members”?

He assured business concerns in the state that his administration will continue to create a secure environment for the development of the state. “We are committed to protecting lives and property across the state. We are building a friendly environment for investors to come and invest in the state” the governor said.

But the APC has urged security organs in the country not to take lightly, the continuous threats to institutions and individuals by Governor Wike, in view of his well known romance with militants.

The State Chapter of APC in a statement lamented the increasing spate of violence in the state in the run-up to the rerun National and State Assembly elections in the restive state.

“We have watched with chagrin the continuous macabre dance and threats to institutions and individuals by Chief Wike in connection with the March 19th rerun National and State Assembly elections in Rivers. We are worried that relevant security agencies have done nothing about these threats, which we insist must not be taken with levity in view of the antecedents of Chief Wike as a man who can do anything under the sun to get what he wants,” Rivers APC said in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, in Port Harcourt.

The party said: “Chief Wike’s threat to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that will organise the March 19 rerun elections to prepare their wills before the exercise is not to us an empty threat. He repeated the same threat during the courtesy call by the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, even mentioning the name of a lecturer whom he vowed will not live in Port Harcourt if the elections do not go his (Wike’s) way. As a result, UNIPORT lecturers have decided to boycott the rerun elections.

“The crisis Wike recently ignited in Ogoni land where tens of souls were lost is still very fresh in our minds. His latest threat directing his party chieftains not to honour any invitation by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) or any security organs before the rerun elections once more demonstrates his disdain for normalcy and a peaceful environment.

“Unfortunately members of PDP are heeding the call by Nyesom Wike to burn alive, members of the opposition and other electoral personnel who stand on their way to victory in the forthcoming rerun elections in Rivers State. As a result, Mr Ofinjite Amachree, an APC chieftain in Asari-Toru LGA was beaten to coma and burnt alive while Tubotamuno Wariso was attacked and beaten to death at Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro LGA by known PDP/Icelander cult boys about two days ago. Pabby Koryene, a chieftain of APC in the Yeghe community was abducted by a PDP chieftain and buried alive.

“It would be recalled that last Saturday by about 8pm, an APC chieftain, Franklin Obi was killed and beheaded by PDP influenced assailants in his home. His wife and son were also killed. The killing happened less than 48 hours after late Franklin Obi, APC Ward 4 Chairman in ONELGA conducted an APC congress. Four APC persons were killed in Obibi, Etche LGA in the last four days. Gabriel Cookey was clubbed to death in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro LGA.

“In fact, in the last one month, over 60 APC members have been killed in different parts of Rivers State”, the party said.

Rivers APC called on the relevant security agencies to act fast and investigate, as well as caution Governor Wike “because if 100 souls could be sacrificed in order to install him as Governor of Rivers State, he wouldn’t mind if thousands of Rivers State people are sacrificed to enable him install his stooges as National and State lawmakers”.

The party noted that already APC members are being hunted and killed across the state by suspected agents of Wike and the ruling PDP in the state, as being well reported by the country’s media and passionately appealed to relevant security agencies not to delay to wade into the matter because the future of Rivers State lies in the way and manner the March 19 rerun elections are conducted and the quality of candidates elected during the exercise.