PORT HARCOURT- Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, is planning to assassinate the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
Amaechi told journalists during a press conference at the Banquet Hall, government house, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, that the police have withdrawn the security personnel attached to Peterside in his capacity as the flag bearer of the APC in the April 11, governorship election.
Governor Amaechi stated: “From reliable intelligence available to the APC, it is believed by the PDP that assassinating Dr. Dakuku Peterside is the last resort and only way of stopping the victory of the APC in the forthcoming elections based on the popularity and acceptability of the APC candidate amongst Rivers voters”.
“Ordinarily, the campaign organisation would have taken this information with a pinch of salt and possibly ignored same as another ploy to distract the APC in the state from its robust campaigns”.
He explained: “The fears of the campaign organisation are however heightened by the act of withdrawal of police security from top APC chieftains in the state including (incredulously) that of her gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside”.
Governor stressed: “This fear is fuelled by unanswered questions as to whether this withdrawal of security personnel is linked to the aforesaid story of plans to assassinate Dr. Peterside and possibly has the backing of top echelons of the security agencies in the state and country”.
He revealed that “those hired for this assassination attempt are still roaming free in Port Harcourt housed and catered for by a top PDP chieftain, (named withheld) in a hotel owned by his cousin (name withheld). You will recall that on Tuesday, February 17, there was an attempt on the life of the of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, when he went for a rally in Okrika”.
“Unfortunately”, Governor Amaechi pointed out: “the Nigeria police in Rivers has led to a great escalation of these acts of killing, unlawful arrests and detention on frivolous and unsubstantiated reasons as well as constant and un-abating harassment using the very same police meant to protect all sides”.
Governor Amaechi lamented: “The most ridiculous is that the police whom we are supposed to run to for protection have commenced the withdrawal of police security for top APC members including that of the gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside”.
He asked: “Where then we may ask lies our hope and the hope of the common man and all seekers of justice and protection if the police in Rivers State can so blatantly and unashamedly take sides in the politics of the state? Has the police stooped so low to become the enforcement wing of the PDP in Rivers State?