Rivers: Wike, PDP cannot deny involvement in political killings, Amaechi alleges

The former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the state Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state were behind the political killings in the state.

Making the allegations while speaking with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport on arrival in the state for the Saturday re-run legislative elections in the State, the Minister said Governor Wike could not deny his involvement and sponsorship of the killing of innocent Rivers people and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections and the March 19 rerun elections in the state.

He alleged that the cache of arms and ammunition Wike recovered from cultists during the first phase of the Rivers State Amnesty Programme were evidences to buttress his allegations.

According to him, “Wike has not denied he did not kill people, he sponsored those who carried arms in the 2015 general elections, even, during the campaigns, our people were beaten, manhandled and others threatened, leaving many dead, but, we will not continue to allow these things to happen like that. Members of the PDP were also responsible for killing APC members in Omoku.
“If Governor Wike and the PDP have justifiable evidence, let them present it to the general public and stop blackmailing me or INEC and Police. The allegations are immaterial, null, and void. Why are Wike and PDP making too much noise and fruitless allegations?”

He stated that he was more popular than all those in the PDP because, he said, when he left office in 2015 as Governor of Rivers State, he had over 75 per cent support from Rivers people and other Nigerians resident in the state.

“This is so because, as Governor then, l overhauled the Health and Education sectors by promoting Free Health Care System and Free Education, over 10,000 teachers were employed, including the building of critical infrastructures, roads and youth empowerment, making Rivers people and other Nigerians to experience change. So l am very sure l had more popularity than any PDP stakeholder including Governors across the country,” he stated.

He said that the APC has been campaigning for candidates in the rerun election in the remote parts of the state and that his arrival from Abuja marked the third visit to join stakeholders of the party for campaigns in the state, urging the people of the state to disabuse their minds against comments by the PDP and Governor Wike, which he said, were calculated to rubbish him in the eyes of right thinking persons, in order to score cheap popularity and further whip up public sentiments to heat up the polity.

“On Wednesday, l will also join the APC stakeholders to carry out further campaigns, while on Thursday, there will be national campaign for the Party in the state to indicate our readiness and preparedness for the rerun elections,” Amaechi said. He, therefore, called on Rivers people and other Nigerians resident in the state, including supporters and stalwarts of the APC to turn out en- mass to vote on Saturday urging them to always protect their votes at election venues.

He said: “Before now, l used to tell my Party members to vote and protect their votes, but there has been complains of indecent attacks from the PDP, so, l have asked the APC party members to protect their votes and their lives as well, because the PDP cannot be bigger than everybody everywhere.”

The Minister expressed total displeasure over what he described as, “irresponsible comments” by Wike, alleging that at several occasions, Wike has abused the office and privileges of the governor, especially, his alleged sudden interception of security operatives who, he said, were detailed by law to arrest corrupt judges in some states across the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister in a radio broadcast aired across the State on Wednesday called on Rivers people to take advantage of the December 10 rerun elections and vote the right persons to represent them and put an end to the “terror they have been made to go through by the Wike and PDP administration in the State so far.”

He said, “This is another opportunity for us to exercise our right to vote for candidates of our choices. You would recall that the last time the elections were held, members of the APC were brazenly, crudely, and violently prevented from exercising their inalienable rights to elect those they wanted. Those same characters and forces that stole our votes by violently denying us the right to vote the last time are at it again. In the months and weeks leading to this Saturday’s election, they have employed the use of violence and intimidation and harassment all aimed at preventing us from coming out to vote, they have turned our hitherto peaceful state into a haven of brazen criminality culminating in killings and maiming of innocent citizens.

“However, it is gratifying to know that the Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari,  has assured the security of lives and property in the state before, during and after the election. Mr. President has graciously provided adequate security through the length and breadth of the state. I therefore, enjoin you all to come out enmasse and exercise your civic right on Saturday. To this end, the reign of terror in some of our local government areas leading to senseless killings will not be tolerated as the security agencies have been directed to ensure the safety of all, before, during and after the elections. I, therefore, implore you all to come out and exercise your rights to vote now that you have a chance to vote and your vote will count, choose wisely, vote APC,” he said.

All efforts by our  correspondent to speak with the Special Assistant to Governor Wike on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, and the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, proved fruitless. Mr. Nwakaudu’s line went off in the course of discussion and remained unavailable while that of Mr. Nwanosike has continued to be on voice mail as at press time.