Rivers: GTCO Condemns Attacks On APC Members

BEVERLY HILLS, April 15, (THEWILL) – The campaign organisation of Peterside Dakuku, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, GTCO, has condemned reported cases of violence, burning of property and attacks on members of the APC by hoodlums allegedly hired by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, all in the name of celebrating 'victory' of what the GTCO called the travesty PDP perpetuated last Saturday, April 11.

GTCO, in a statement issued by its Communication Director, Ibim Semenitari, titled: What Manner of Celebration!, equally expressed worry over similar reports of residents sighting heavily-armed youths on the streets of Port Harcourt, all in the name of celebrating a phantom victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The statement said: “We condemn these scary reports but are not surprised since violence is part of PDP's résumé. But our concern is that again, fear has returned to the streets, and our people have too soon begun to live in the realm of anxiety and darkness.

“Reports from various parts of Rivers State since Sunday night included that heavy gunfire have been on the rise especially in the Township, Diobu and Rumueprikom areas of Port Harcourt. “Residents of Township, Diobu and Rumueprikom areas in Port Harcourt have lived in fear, each night presenting worse uncertainties as heavy gunfire deny them deserved rest. Celebrations are never expressed in bullets and violence, destruction of property and creation of nightmare against a people.”

In the statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday , GTCO said that during the gubernatorial campaign, Dr. Peterside, who was the APC governorship candidate, had foretold of the unfolding relapse into darkness in Rivers State, if by any means the governorship candidate of PDP was declared winner of the governorship election.

“It was an evil foretold as warned by the APC Governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who also emphasised that PDP has no genuine programme for the development of the state. His predictions are, unfortunately, too soon, beginning to unfold,” the statement noted. GTCO expressed fear that with the dangerous arming of its militias and other hoodlums it recruited for the April 11 elections, PDP has laid the foundation for another season of insecurity in Rivers.

“Rivers State was at a lawless crossroads when Governor Chibuike Amaechi came into office in 2007. In order to return the state to the post-2007 era of peace and economic prosperity Rivers State enjoyed, Gov. Amaechi took the risks and wedged the bullets. The Administration took deliberate, functional security options that de-mobilised the numerous “axis of evil” that had occupied our communities. Rivers State which was a pariah soon returned to her pride. But with what we have seen since Sunday night when INEC announced the governorship 'result', the state appears to be on the road to Golgotha.

“We reject these deliberate layers of affliction which commenced last Friday, April 10 when PDP gunmen lay siege on towns and communities killing and maiming several persons. While regretting this return of season of anomie, we assure Rivers people that it won't last,” GTCO said.