Prior to the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State has urged Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba to prevent political thugs from turning the State into a battleground.
The attack on Rhino Owhokire, a young leader for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the State, and his brother, which took place on Wednesday night at Aluu in the Ikwerre local government area of the State, was denounced at the time.
Dr. Abiye Sekibo, the director of the State Campaign Management Committee, also requested that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other national security organizations keep a careful eye on happenings in the State.
The following is a portion of the statement: “On December 9, 2022, we called the nation’s attention to the heinous attack on the home of the Chairman of the Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Council, the Honorable Senator Lee Maeba, by political thugs thought to be acting on orders from the Obio/
Chairman of the Akpor local government council.
“Unfortunately, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police discounted the attack as being planned by the Honorable Senator against himself.
The Rivers State PDP Presidential Council members learned of an armed attack on Mr. Rhino Owhorkire, a youth leader for the Atiku Presidential Campaign team in Rivers State, and his cousin on December 14, 2022, at around 9:00 PM, in the Ikwerre local government area.
“They both received gunshot wounds as they were leaving a PDP Presidential Campaign rally. They both suffered injuries that are potentially fatal, and they are currently being treated in an intensive care unit.
“Mr. Rhino suffered similar attacks a few weeks ago when he was physically beaten and ordered by the chairman of the Ikwerre local government council to repudiate his support for the PDP presidential candidate, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar (Warizin Adamawa).
“The lives of Rivers people, and other citizens, including foreign residents in the State are precious, and nothing should be left undone to preserve these lives from unwanted attacks. “We continue to stand for a peaceful election in all parts of Rivers State and Nigeria at large. Lets give peace a chance in Rivers State. No one has the monopoly of violence, and we must not be forced to resort to self-help. This is an open plea to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forced of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
As seen in the local government areas of Okrika, Obio/Akpor, and Ikwerre in Rivers State, it is becoming clear that the governor has militarized local government council chairman positions and utilized them to enlist thugs and commit mayhem against Atiku Abubakar supporters (Wazirin Adamawa).
As a result, the Campaign Council is once again urging the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and all other security agencies of government to intervene and stop the sponsors of these thugs from turning Rivers State into a battlefield before, during, and after the 2023 General Elections. This is on behalf of all peace lovers in Rivers State and throughout Nigeria.
The lives of Rivers inhabitants as well as other State residents, including foreign nationals, are valuable, and everything should be done to protect them from unwarranted attacks.
“We continue to advocate for a peaceful election throughout Rivers State and all of Nigeria. Give Rivers State’s peace a chance. Nobody has the right to use violence exclusively, and we shouldn’t be obliged to rely on it. This is an open letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
