Rivers State of Nigeria: APC Blasts PDP, Police over Ogoni Rally Violence

•Condemns the tissue of lies by the Rivers Police Command, Renews call for Mbu’s redeployment

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, says it is saddened by the repeat violence at the rally organised on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM).
The party in a statement today by its spokesman Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said: “Just as happened the previous Sunday at the SRM’s rally held at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, the rally at Bori in Khana Local Government Area was also brutally stopped by gun men, who left several cars and people injured and at least two innocent people lost their lives as reported by the PDP in Rivers State. For PDP to have sent out a press statement even while the shooting was going on in Khana indicating pre-information of this attack and ascertaining the number of people they killed simply indicates that they were part of the attack”.


Eze alleged that, “in the case of the Port Harcourt rally of January 12, the shooting was directly done by the police with Senator Magnus Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South East zone and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), and Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as the targets and among those who sustained injuries. But at the Khana rally, the targets were Secretary to the State Government (SSG) George Feyi, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly Barr Leyi Kwanee, Chief Victor Giadom the Hon. Commissioner of Works and again the Chief of Staff Chief Tony Okocha as their cars were riddled with bullets”.

The party described as unfortunate that “while Senator Abe is still receiving treatment abroad as a result of that shooting, thugs hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brazenly disrupted Khana’s rally in Ogoniland under the supervision of the police. This explains why none of the hoodlums was arrested by the police, who failed to provide security at the rally as requested by the organisers”.

Parts of the statement read:

“It is sad and unfortunate that Rivers State Police Command shamelessly denied that the Command was not duly notified of this rally but her duly acknowledged letter of 17th January, 2014 from Save Rivers Movement notifying her about the rally is attached in case anybody is in doubt of the tissue of lies by the Rivers State Police Command.

“Needless to say, this brazen conduct by the police and the untouchable PDP lords in Rivers State makes a mockery of the on-going investigation of the orchestrated violence that disrupted the January 12 rally in Port Harcourt. It also raises questions about the sincerity of the promise by the Police High Command in Abuja to probe the Port Harcourt show of shame.

“The incident at the Khana rally leaves nobody in doubt anymore that the Rivers State Police Command is now an extension of PDP in Rivers State if the numerous rallies in support of CP Mbu’s impunities in the State are anything to go by. We thank Chief Nyesome Wike the Minister of Education who attested to this unholy marriage during the last GDI rally at Degema in the State when he stated, “No policeman can arrest members of the Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI). We are free of any arrest; no police will arrest any member of GDI or interrupt their activities or gathering in this State. Don’t forget it is Amaechi who was ordering police to arrest GDI members anywhere they are gathering. Now he is the one crying over arrest and disruption of APC gathering in the state. He has not started crying; the police will continue to chase them”. Very unfortunate scenario where a Minister of the Federal Republic can utter such undemocratic statements exposing how the Rivers State has been compromised.

“The Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and the entire members of APC in Rivers State unequivocally condemn the recourse to violence by the police and PDP to disrupt pro-APC rallies while PDP members are given police protection for their own rallies. We call on Nigerians to rise as one to condemn this double standard which has the capability to plunge Rivers State into unmitigated chaos.

“We once more wish to use this opportunity to request the immediate redeployment of the partisan State Police Commissioner, CP Joseph Mbu, out of Rivers State before he plunges the state into unprecedented anarchy that may consume our nascent democracy”

Rivers PDM Still Intact, APC lies Again - PDM

Rivers PDM Still Intact, APC lies Again - PDM

It has been brought to our attention that a report mentioning PDM and credited to the "APC" in Rivers state was issued earlier. The mentioned release is not just untrue but also a disgrace to our growing democracy. It is surprising that while other parties are registering members, consulting the people and consolidating on modalities to better their lot, the APC in Rivers State has towed the path of falsehood. Lying should never be so easy. The PDM is still intact in Rivers State and always will be. 

No registered member of the PDM has defected to the APC. If they have, they should produce their PDM membership registration numbers. This is analog politics played by people who live in the same world they claim they seek to change. We call on the leadership of APC to demonstrate they stand by the truth and call their spokes person, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze to order, and abstain from telling lies or spreading untrue stories in an attempt to gain popularity. The APC rather should focus on their party and state affairs and leave we the Rivers State PDM out of it.

If they can lie about the trivial, can we trust them on anything? Where does a registered party, recognized by INEC get merged into another at state level? They must think Rivers people and Nigerians are fools. We would like to use this opportunity to call on all well meaning Nigerians who believe in the need for change to use the manual registration exercise to join the only party that truly offers change. With millions of online members already registered at www.pdm.ng, there is clearly something we are doing right. If APC would stop spending so much time abusing and deceiving Nigerians, maybe they too would learn something.

Contrary to the untruths coughed up by Eze, it is no secret that the PDM leadership has been visited on several occasions by the original and verifiable APC leadership before the pending move by Amaechi to hijack their party. They knew what was coming and were seeking refuge from the dictators disguised as democrats and saviours of the people. Their worst fears have now been realized. Discussions have reached an advanced stage and when the move does happen, it won't be imagined in press releases or radio broadcasts but seen in verifiable clarity on your TV screens. We have to much respect for Rivers people to be part of their continued deception.

Tonye Princewill though not a member of PDM is a Prince and a gentleman and remains closer to us than he ever will be to APC. Even though he remains a member of PDP, he understands the principle of politics without bitterness and giving love to all - even those who hurt him. We hope that one day our paths will cross but till then we will focus on serving Rivers people and working from the grassroots up.

Ministerial Nominations: A Sign of Better Days Ahead - Princewill

Ministerial Nominations: A Sign of Better Days Ahead - Princewill

PDP stalwart in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill has expressed his confidence in the just released ministerial nominees list. In a press statement released by his Personal Assistant- Media and Publicity, Wabiye Idoniboye-obu, Prince Tonye encouraged the National assembly to screen and approve the well-deserved candidates.

For Princewill, “the bedrock of good governance is having a good team behind you; this has been a challenge for previous administrations in our country. In leadership, the systematic balance between human capacity and politics is usually the formula for creating a formidable workforce. In the opening sitting of the Senate, the senate president, David Mark, presented a list of ministerial nominees submitted by Mr. President. On this list are intelligent men and women who have the wherewithal to deliver on targets in the prelude to an election year.

Princewill who congratulated President Jonathan for, what he called, “a move in the right direction”, enthused, “in one strike, the president has proved he can balance governance and politics”.

The Prince of the Kalabari kingdom encouraged the nominees to put in their best, and push for excellence. “I am really impressed with the quality of the list and I am confident that they will perform” Princewill said.

The list has the likes of General Aliyu Gusau Mohamed (rtd) from Zamfara State, who retired as a Lieutenant General. As an intelligence expert, Gen Gusau held all the exalted security positions in the land, from Chief of Army Staff to National Security Adviser. This has stamped his legacy in the defense unit of our country. Also on the list is Senator Musiliu Obanikoro from Lagos State, who as senator proposed motions that affected the lives of many Nigerians. From bills that checkmated the overflow of the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos and the condition of the Abuja Stadium to resolving the clash between men of the Nigerian Police Force and Nigerian Army in the west; Obanikoro has made his mark. Dr T. W. Danagogo from Rivers State has served the people in various capacities. From Local Government Chairman to Commissioner of a complicated ministry, Dr Danagogo has delivered on all counts especially in how he handled his final days in office with Amaechi.

“The Kalabari Kingdom needed a boost after Soku and the loss of Ajumogobia. I suspect this is the first step to resolving Soku. An issue which our people take very seriously”, the Prince highlighted.

Prince Tonye Princewill cheerd existing ministers to keep up the good work and aid the President move the country forward. He also urged them to welcome the new ministers with open arms and together form a team of winners. “I am particularly impressed with the women in Mr. President’s cabinet. The Petroleum and Finance ministers both deserve a pat on the back”. “2014 will be an interesting year, but the synergy between the incoming and existing ministers should be top of the agenda. The President’s return in 2015 is hinged on their performance and they cannot afford to fail”, Princewill said.