Rivers PDP Condemns Dakuku’s Call For Violence

Concerned over the vicious implications of the call by the All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate in the 2015 Governorship Election in the State, Mr Dakuku Peterside, on members of the party to conduct themselves violently and not to leave anything to chance in their quest to cease power in the State by all means, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, strongly condemns the choice of violence by the APC chieftain, calling on the security agencies to immediately avert bloodletting in the State by prevailing on him and other chieftains of the APC.

The PDP says it is adverse that Mr. Dakuku who ought to advocate free and fair elections, not only in Rivers State but in the country, last Saturday, during an APC event, called on members of his party to fight and ensure that they have overwhelming control of affairs at the various polling units across the State during the INEC planned re-run elections in the State next month.

The PDP expresses dismay that the APC led by the former Governor, Amaechi, Dakuku, Abe and Ikanya prefers violence to civilized and democratic means of contesting and assuming political power in the State, recalling that this was not the first time the APC leadership had incited or stimulated their supporters to take up arms against their political opponents and defenseless masses in order to intimidate or silence them from participating in electoral process and contests in the State. This has been the consistent preferred position of Mr Dakuku and other APC leaders, even in the face of no provocation.

Calling on political supporters to fight during the conduct of re-run elections has some caustic consequences and is an invitation to anarchy in the State, and considering the potential of this avoidable development, we urge members of the minority Party, the APC, in the State to reconsider their option and choose the path of peace to ensure participatory, free and fair elections.

We equally and strongly appeal to the good people of Rivers State to join in condemning the preference of violence and call for anarchy in our beloved State by the APC folks, assured that perpetrators of violence in the State will not have a field day, as the PDP will do everything possible to get justice accordingly. We therefore, admonish youths in the State to resist violence and to report any APC leader or politician who engages them to cause bloodshed and other violent acts in the State to relevant authorities of Government, assuring that Rivers State Government under Governor Wike will continue to abhor violence and social vices in the State.

The PDP again urges the law enforcement agencies to avert the possible destruction of lives and properties in the State by the APC leaders and their followers, calling on President Buhari and the national leadership of the APC to prevail on their members in Rivers State, and to demonstrably convince Rivers people that they are not in support of the violence and mayhem Dakuku, Amaechi, Abe and others have planned to visit on Rivers State with action and public statement dissociating themselves from their stance.

Jerry Needam, JP
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity
To the Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah
Tuesday, January 12, 2016.