by Deji Abiodun
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi escaped unhurt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Thursday when gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, fired shots at his convoy.
PUNCH Newspaper reports that two members of the All Progressives Congress were however unlucky as they were seriously injured in the incident, which happened at about 6pm on Thursday.
The governor was on a door-to-door ward campaign of the area.
An SMS sent to our correspondent by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, indicated that the attackers made bonfire along a major road in the area to prevent the governor from leaving.
The SMS read, “This evening, gunshots were fired at the convoy of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor LGA by PDP thugs.
“Obio/Akpor is the home of the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Nyesom Wike. The thugs attacked the governor’s convoy and his entourage with bottles, stones and other dangerous objects. Then gunshots were fired at the convoy.
“When the governor was leaving the community, bonfire was set up on the road to prevent him from leaving. More gunshots were fired at his convoy. Amaechi was on door-to-door ward campaign in the state.”
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged an assassination attempt on Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said that the attempt took place on Thursday at the Rumuolumeni area of Port Harcourt, the state capital.
He said some unidentified gun-wielding youths had first blocked the exit route of the governor’s convoy and advanced to where Amaechi was addressing supporters of the party in Obio/Akpor, shooting.
The governor’s security details returned fire and quickly built a wall around him and drove him away into safety.
Ikanya further claimed that assassins have been commissioned to kill Amaechi in his hometown of Ubima when he goes to vote Saturday in the presidential election.
“To add to our travails, the Port Harcourt residence of our gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has been cordoned off while 35 APC leaders have been arrested in the past 24 hours for no just cause,” Ikanya stated.
He blamed the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of working in concert with the police on what is code-named ‘Operation Holocaust’ which started on Thursday and would involve a house-to-house attack on APC members in Rivers.
“The non-indigenes have already been forced to flee the State,” he said, adding: “By Friday they will go for Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, the Asari Toru LGA CTC Chairman, attempting to murder him with other APC leaders in Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru. After that they will invade the home of Chief Victor Giadom, the Director General of APC Campaign Organisation, at Gokana, to arrest him with Senator Magnus Abe and Hon. Barika. The following people have been listed to be attacked: Udi Odun in Abua, Cassidy Ikegbedi in Ahoada, Allwell Oneyeroh in Etche, Nnamdi Okere in Oke-Etche.
Ikanya in the statement dismissed as ridiculous, the rumour making the rounds that he has defected to PDP. “That will never happen. Whoever started or is spreading that lie should be treated for acute malaria,” he said.
The Rivers APC Chairman dismissed the rumour as the handiwork of the Rivers PDP. He said: “Last Monday, Mr. Felix Obuah, the PDP State Chairman while receiving the defected Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru, boasted that about six commissioners in Gov. Amaechi’s cabinet would be joining them by Wednesday – that is, two days ago. If I may ask, where are the commissioners that have joined them? Of course, only a Judas Iscariot can join them. In every given time only one Judas exists and he has already departed, thereby leaving APC more virile, united and stronger.
