By Ayodele Oni

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has observed that peaceful protests by some groups in the State are turning to violence.

The Party also described as crude the decision of Security Agents to continue with occupation of Local Governments in the State.

A statement on Wednesday by the Party’s spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, stated that from observation, the protests appear to be orchestrated and stage-managed to justify call for State of Emergency, even where no such situation ordinarily exists.

“We received with utmost consternation, the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) yesterday June 25, 2024, at the Hotel Presidential axis of Port Harcourt on the busy Aba Road of the Garden City by an alleged protester.

“For clarity, the protest is organized against all advice and caution by a political group loyal to the FCT Minister, same group that has called for impeachment of the sitting governor, same group now calling for State of Emergency in the state.

“To all reasonable persons, the protests appear to be orchestrated and stage-managed to justify their call for State of Emergency, even where no such situation ordinarily exists.

“We are miffed by the deployment of guerrilla warfare to our polity and wonder why this ugly narrative must always headline political activities in Rivers State.

“Regrettably, this shameful and unfortunate incident reminds us of the January 19th 2023 bombing of the APC campaign venue at Rumuwoji town hall, another suburb of Port Harcourt, which left six APC members injured, and all the signs point to the same group who seem to have the privilege of getting away with whatever violent crime they launched.

“We challenge Police authorities in Rivers State to rise to the occasion this time by quizzing sponsors/leaders of the protest of 25th June 2024 who are not only known political hunchos, but apostles and sympathizers of the call for a state of emergency in Rivers State.

“They seem to apply the notion that whatever you can’t get you destroy. Their modus operandi which is now common knowledge is that whatever evil they want to launch, they first raise public outcry and point fingers to the opposite direction to deceive the public.

“We sadly recall that a similar bombing incident linked to political activities occured in February of 2023 which led to the untimely death of the mastermind, Mr Destiny Igbanibo.

“Rivers people waited in vain for details of the outcome of Police investigations on that traumatic incident, but, like other very disturbing acts of violence against the opposition and security breaches that occurred in the lead-up to the 2023 elections, it has been a matter of coverup or ‘the more you look, the less you see.’

“The remote reason for the so-called protests which clearly is targeted at scare-mongering and instilling fear in residents and investors, is the shutting down of local government council Secretariats in the state and we dare say, that the intervention of the Police must balance public order and rule of law.

“The idea of physical occupation of workspaces by the Police is completely out of tune with modern realities. How does denying civil servants access to their workspaces connect with or to the likely outcome of Court decision(s)?

“It’s more strange that the people carrying out violent protests on the streets are claiming they are doing so ‘in support of the police seal off of the LGA Secretariats’.

“It beats all logic that a group protesting in support of an action are at the same time perpetuating violence and bombing. This is a cup of tea for the Rivers State Police  Command to unravel to avoid being seen by members of the public as being complicit in the unfolding drama.”

By Ayodele Oni

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has asserted that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the Hotel Presidential, a five star hotel in Port Harcourt, was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a State of Emergency by haters who want to undermine the State to achieve their evil plans.

The Governor reiterated  that he is not fighting anybody, but rather defending the State against predators who feel they own it more than others.

Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received on courtesy visit, a delegation of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by its Chairman, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nelson Chukwudi, quoted the Governor as saying that some youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for extension of the tenure of former Local Government Chairmen who have served out their statutory three-year tenure.

Governor Fubara said the protesters and their sponsors were aware that some Honourable Members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, which is why they attempted to detonate an explosive device near the facility in order to give reason to support the call for State of Emergency when the matter is raised at Plenary but they failed.

“As a matter of fact, let me tell you, I know of everything that is happening. Yesterday Tuesday, they (protesters) were aware that you are in the State. So, there was an attempt to create serious problem.

“In fact, there was a plan to detonate dynamite at the Hotel Presidential because you people were there. But this God that we serve, it happened that the man who was trying to do it, detonated it but just few seconds after, it blew his hands off.

“The idea was that as you were hearing state of emergency, it will be so that by the time they finish, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow, the debate will be from somebody from this State who called you people to tell you not to come.

“He will now raise issue of state of emergency, and say after all, distinguished colleagues saw it happen while you were in Rivers State, that you saw what happened.

“I tell you, we know everything that is happening, and you know it, everybody knows it. We should be bold enough to look at the face of people and tell them the truth.

“I am not fighting anybody. If I am fighting, people will know that I am fighting: My pattern will change. What we are doing is to defend ourselves. We can’t just fold our hands. Only a tree will be standing and somebody will come and cut it off.

“It doesn’t happen as a human being. If you know that danger is coming, you shift. What we are doing is just to protect ourselves. So, Distinguished Senators, I am not fighting anybody.

“Somebody thinks or some people feel they own life. I don’t own life. The person who owns life is God. What we are doing here is to serve the people of Rivers State because God has given us this opportunity.

“It doesn’t matter the channel the opportunity came from. But the most important thing is God, and nobody takes the place of God in anything.

“I will also appeal to you that in this process of privatisation, anything that has to do with our own State here that needs to be privatized, the Rivers State Government will be interested. Because you can’t come here and own our property when we have the resources to have shares or to acquire some portion of it.

“So, as a committee, if there is anywhere you can support us; if they is anyone that is still available, let us know, and let us get the details so that we can own it.

“It is only when we own it that those assets can be protected. It is only when we own it, that is when those assets become viable to the State, and also become viable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he noted.

In his address, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, said they were in Rivers State to carry out oversight duties on some projects under their purview.

Senator Kalu, who is the member representing Abia North Senatorial District, commended Governor Fubara for his love for peace, determination to offer quality governance and keep pace with providing the right climate to engender economic growth to all residents in the State.

The Senate committee chairman also urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to sheath the sword, and call his supporters to order as a commitment to fostering peace and putting the interest of the State above all considerations.

“I want to admire Your Excellency, your Deputy and your team for the good things you are doing in the State, but it is good to have peace.”