…AS GOVERNOR ACCUSE GOC OF SENDING SOLDIERS AFTER HIM
Minister of Transportation and Director-General of President Buhari Reelection Campaign Organization, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has faulted the clamins by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, that soldiers attempted to assassinate him on Thursday night.
Wike had accused the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham, of making attempts on his life by sending soldiers who confronted his (governor) security details in Port Harcourt.
But, speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, Amaechi, who is a former governor of the state, urged Wike the people of the state the truth about what transpired on that fateful night.
The minister said: “I try to avoid this because you know that the governor is a drama queen. He is a young boy and he is behaving like a young boy. How do you kill a governor? In his convoy are soldiers, policemen, SSS, fully armed with not just AK-47 but with more than AK-47; with this Israeli guns that they are carrying. To kill a governor, you will kill them first and they are over 100.
“If the GOC orders soldiers to come and kill the governor, then there will be war. Now if the soldiers tried to assassinate him, who heard the gunshot? I was a governor and the first reaction of the security aides is to fire gunshots. That is why you are not allowed to pass in front of the governor because they will shoot.
“Even if those that passed were innocent citizens, they must shoot because they have a duty to keep the governor alive. Let the governor tell you the truth if his life was at stake.”
Recalled that Wike had while speaking after a meeting with officials of the British High Commission at the Government House, Port Harcourt, allegedly revealed that he survived an assassination attempt on his life on Thursday night after soldiers sent by Sarham confronted his security details.
The governor alerted Nigerians that the military is supplying fake uniforms to militants hired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the purpose of disrupting the elections and unleashing mayhem.
He said the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has been taking very unprofessional measures to silence PDP members, saying that he has informed the British High Commission and other foreign missions of the anti-democratic actions of the security forces, especially the Nigerian Army.
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Wike said: “Last night; the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army plotted an assassination on my life. Thank God, that was not successful.
“On Friday, 15th of February, a day to the 16th of February , the first date for the elections before it was rescheduled, the GOC sent soldiers to cordone off my private residence.
“Yesterday, I was shocked that when I left Government House to see some political leaders, soldiers were trailing me. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t have military security details.
“Along Abacha road where you have Algate Hotel, to my surprise I heard my security men shouting that the soldiers are behind us. I have said this severally about the GOC of the 6 Division that nobody should kill because he was promised the position of Chief of Army Staff “.
The governor said the General Officer Commanding the Division can be promoted a Chief of Army Staff without killing anyone, adding that there is no need to kill innocent people for a personal ambition.
Wike, who stated that Rivers State is strategically positioned in Nigeria and should not be destabilised for political goals, said: “Rivers State is so important to this country. The economy of Nigeria cannot survive without Rivers State. By what they are doing, they are scaring investors away.”
The governor urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to talk to the Nigerian Army to reduce their level of partisanship and illegal activities ahead of the elections.
He said: “The GOC held a meeting with the soldiers yesterday and said they must do everything they can to ensure that the President wins. That is not good. Allow Nigerians to support whoever they want to support.”
Wike said there is no reason for any fight in the state because the APC is not running the Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly Elections in Rivers State.
Wike regretted that the Nigeria Army has started arresting PDP in Eleme and other local government areas, saying that 182 persons have been pencilled down for arrest by the Army.
The governor decried the supply of military uniforms to APC militants because it would have post elections negative consequences.
Earlier, the Political Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Louis Edwards said that they were in the state to observe the Elections.
She said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State assured her that things would work well. She said that she is looking forward to a peaceful Elections.
