Port Harcourt- Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has condemned the early morning attack on the secretariat of the party in Okrika local government area of the state, by yet-to-be identified hoodlums
The ground floor of the three-storey building, located at Abam-Ama community in Okrika, which houses the APC secretariat in the area, was in the early morning of Sunday, touched with explosives suspected to be dynamite.
Peterside, who spoke to newsmen in Okrika, shortly after assessing the damage caused by the explosion, accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the area of being responsible for the damage.
He alleged that “members and supporters of the PDP in the state have initiated a particular pattern of meting our violence on the people of the state, especially members of the APC”. He stressed that was confident that “the Nigeria Police and other security agencies would tackle the excesses of the opposition party before long.”
Peterside lamented: “This development is very said and it is unfortunate that some persons in the society have decided to choose this path. If you have noticed, there has been a pattern of violence lately. On the 6th day of January, when we had our presidential rally at the Adokiye Amesiemeka Stadium, you would have noted that some of our people who were coming from Abonnema, Degema, Asari-Toru axis were attacked around Sa-Ama junction.”
“The persons who were coming from Kaani and Gokana were attacked around Saakpenwa junction. Some other groups who were coming for the same rally were attacked around Elele. All fingers point to the other political party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
He continued: “We have raised these issues with the Commissioner of Police; we have raised it with the security agencies. Not much has been done after then. Aside from that, you must also have observed a trend, even among themselves. A few days ago, they were in Abonnema to campaign; a faction of PDP fought with another faction of PDP and two persons are now confirmed dead.”
“They have also exhibited several other acts of violence at many other instances and that portend serious danger for our democracy. I don’t want to believe that sign-posts what we expecton February 14, because Rivers people are ordinary peace-loving people and we are not violent. I am optimistic that the Police will do something about this pattern of violence we have been observing. If they don’t do, they will force the ordinary people to resort to self-help, and self-help does not do anyone any good.”
The people of Okrika have seen violence and would not want to face another season of violence in their community. I enjoined them to remain calm with the hope that security agencies would unearth those behind the attack.”
Peterside said, “Talking about this specific instance of the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Okrika local government area; Okrika people have seen enough violence and we know they will reject violence. They will not go back again. Political instigated violence does no one any good.”
“Yesterday, we thought we had a very peaceful rally in Bonny, and successful meetings in Okrika, and those meetings and rally made symbolic statement that Rivers people are going APC all the way. You can see that there is a link between the success of the party and this violence that is visited both on human beings and our properties.
“This one is the latest; the report we have said early this morning, there were a couple of explosions here. Our people who lie around this neighbourhood rushed out and they couldn’t intercept one person or the other doing this.”
“But, the Police have been accordingly briefed; the Area Commander is here with us. Let us hope that the Police will unearth the perpetrators of this violence this time around. It is in their best interest; it is in the best interest of Nigeria; it is in the best interest of democracy”, the APC governorship candidate added.
